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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: Perennial bunchgrass, l 1/2
to 4 feet tall. The stems are erect at the base, but curve at the top.
A ring of stiff, short hairs encircles the stem at the junction of the
leaf blade and stalk.
Occurrence Throughout the state between elevations of 200 to 7,000
feet. As its name implies, sand dropseed usually grows on sandy areas.
It is not restricted to sandy sites, however, but may be encountered
on a wide variety of soils. Forage Value Sand dropseed varies in palatability from one region to another. In most of Arizona it is generally classed as fair to good forage. After it is mature it is generally poor forage for most grazing purposes. It begins growth later than most of the grasses with which it grows. Some of the lighter soil areas in southeastern Arizona support a mixture of sand dropseed and blue grama. Although blue grama has the higher palatability, the sand dropseed is taken quite readily.
Sand dropseed will increase under moderate use on ranges
where the original perennial grasses have been killed. Under heavy use
it will also be killed. Because of its low palatability when dry, this
grass is best grazed during summer when it is green. Moderate utilization
levels and periodic growing season deferment are suggested to maintain
stands. Sand dropseed has been reseeded on light, sandy soils more successfully than most grasses. The seeds are extremely small and many of them sift down into the soil where they germinate.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona