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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: A perennial bunchgrass 2 to 5 feet
tall with sod-forming tendencies. The plants are erect and rather slender,
with the stems and leaves rather closely bunched.
Occurrence Reported from Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Cochise,
Pima, and Santa Cruz counties. It commonly grows in oak or juniper woodlands,
and in open pine forests or mountain meadows at elevations above 4,000
feet. Forage Value This grass does not rate very high as forage. It is not very palatable and its nutrient value is rather low. Protein content has been found to be about half that of blue grama at the same stage of growth.
Little bluestem is most productive when grazed during the months of July to September while the plants are growing. It may be grazed during the fall and winter but is not readily taken when dormant. When grazed during the summer, associated species will likely dictate utilization levels. Periodic growing season deferment should be allowed.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona