VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Achnatherum speciosum | Desert Needlegrass 




IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Desert needlegrass produces considerable basal foliage and is good
forage while young [13,25].  Desert bighorn sheep in Arizona and feral
burros in California grazed desert needlegrass [18,26].


PALATABILITY : 
Young desert needlegrass is palatable to all classes of livestock [25].
Mature herbage is moderately grazed by horses and cattle but rarely
grazed by sheep [25].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
In Arizona, Seegmiller and others [26] analyzed the nutritional quality
of desert needlegrass at bimonthly intervals for 1 year.  Desert
needlegrass dry matter peaked at 95 percent in late summer.  Protein
content increased through June to 6.73 percent and then dropped in
autumn to 2.35 percent.  Acid detergent fiber percentages remained
constant through the year at 43.67 percent.  Lignin and cellulose
increased from January to December, ending the year at 8.86 and 39.83
percent, respectively.  Lipids steadily decreased from 3.74 percent in
January to 1.86 percent in December.


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Desert needlegrass seeds are easily germinated and have potential for
commercial use [42].  Desert needlegrass may be used for groundcover in
areas of light disturbance, but it is susceptible to excessive trampling
[18].  For 5 years, Cole and Hall [6] studied impacts to vegetation at
campsites in the Grand Canyon, Arizona.  Although still infrequent,
desert needlegrass was relatively more abundant in campsites (2 plants
total) than in undisturbed controls (0 plants).


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Desert needlegrass florets have a prominent callus.  The sharp-pointed
seeds with long, bent awns injure mouths and eyes of grazing animals
[13].

Desert needlegrass may be eliminated from areas with a high
concentration of grazing animals due to excessive trampling and
overgrazing [18].

Related categories for Species: Achnatherum speciosum | Desert Needlegrass