Crested Wheatgrass Yields as Influenced by Water Conservation Practices1

Abstract

AbstractEvaporation of water Irom the soil surface is a major economic loss to the western United States, because water is the primary limiting factor in plant growth on arid and semiarid rangelands. ‘Nordan’ crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult.) planted in rows 1.1 m apart; the effect on total herbage yield of a gravel mulch, a sheet metal “mulch,” close rows of grass, and cereal grain seeded between the grass rows was determined for a 2‐year period. Some treatments received different rates of N fertilizer. Sheet metal between the rows, covering 86% of the land surface, increased mean 2‐year yield about 112% over clean cultivation (check). A gravel mulch 1.5 cm deep increased mean yield about 16%. Close rows of grass and cereal grain between the grass rows also increased total yield. Benefit from nitrogen at 22, 44, or 66 kg/ha per year was minor. Benefit from the mulches was greater the second year than the first.