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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Description Growth habit: A low-growing sodgrass spreading
from underground rootstocks. The erect flowering stems are 1 to 3 feet
tall, numerous and slender. When moisture and light are adequate, the
plants form a dense sod. Occurrence Throughout the state except in the low, drier areas. A common lawn and pasture grass at higher elevations.
Forage Value Grows early in the spring and provides good forage for
early grazing. This is usually considered to be the most valuable pasture
grass in North America. Although not the most valuable grass in Arizona,
it does provide large amounts of forage in irrigated pastures and in
the timbered portions of the state. Grazing Management Kentucky bluegrass withstands long-continued, heavy grazing
better than most grasses. For maximum returns under irrigation it should
be fertilized with ammonium phosphate or ammonium nitrate at least once
yearly. Where heavily grazed, two or even three applications are recommended.
When moisture is adequate, low production from Kentucky bluegrass can
usually be traced to low soil fertility. Maximum returns on fertilized irrigated bluegrass pastures
can be realized when two or three pastures are grazed in rotation. This
makes it possible to keep animals off each pasture after irrigating
while the ground is still muddy. It also permits the grasses to reach
a moderate height before again being grazed. A drawback to Kentucky bluegrass is that it grows slowly for a period of two to four weeks during mid-summer. Adequate irrigation and fertilization reduce this semidormant period to a minimum.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona