VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Agrostis scabra | Ticklegrass 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Although ticklegrass is a common and widespread species, the large ratio
of seed head to foliage prevents it from being an important livestock
forage plant.  Prior to flowering, however, cattle, sheep, and horses
readily consume it [32,41].

Ticklegrass is occasionally eaten by elk, mule deer, white-tail deer,
pronghorn, small mammals, upland gamebirds, and waterfowl [8].  Moose
may also graze on ticklegrass throughout the year [26].



PALATABILITY : 
Ticklegrass is considered to be relatively unpalatable to livestock but
is consumed early in the season [32,33,41].  The relish and degree of
use shown by livestock and wildlife in several western states is rated
as follows [8]:

                       UT          WY            MT             ND

Cattle                good        fair          poor           fair
Sheep                 fair        fair          poor           fair 
Horses                fair        fair          poor           fair
Elk                   good        good          ----           ----
Mule deer             fair        poor          ----           ----
White-tailed deer     ----        poor          ----           poor
Pronghorn             poor        poor          ----           poor
Upland gamebirds      poor        fair          ----           ----
Waterfowl             poor        poor          ----           fair
Small nongame birds   poor        fair          ----           ----
Small mammals         poor        fair          ----           ----


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Ticklegrass has been rated as fair in energy value and low in protein
value [8].


COVER VALUE : 
In certain areas, ticklegrass provides moderate cover for white-tailed
deer, pronghorn, small mammals, upland gamebirds, and small nongame
birds.  It may also provide good cover for waterfowl [8].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Ticklegrass is a suitable candidate for revegetation programs,
particularily in northern regions [43].  It has been used successfully
in seeding experiments on alpine sites, where areas disturbed by
grazing, recreation, and mining or mineral exploration are common [4].
Ticklegrass is also reported to be common on abandoned coal-mine sites
in Alberta [37] and has colonized industrially damaged sites near
Sudbury, Ontario [19].  It naturally invades areas damaged by sulfur
emissions [48] and can be found on soils with copper concentrations of
450 p/m and nickel concentrations of 500 p/m [15].  In Yellowstone
National Park, ticklegrass was seeded onto disturbed sites and after one
growing season comprised 18 to 30 percent of the vegetation on test
plots [29].  In revegetation trials in the Yukon Territory, seedlings
emerged in the first growing season in 100 percent of seeded plots.  All
plots contained viable plants 7 years later.  Eighty-six percent of
plants produced seed in the second growing season, and all live plants
produced seed during the seventh growing season [43].  In addition,
ticklegrass has a fibrous root system that is effective in preventing
soil erosion [8,15,48].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Ticklegrass is one of the most successful native grasses in the
revegetation programs in which it has been included [29,43].  It has
shown good potential for both short-term and long-term revegetation, and
has low establishment requirements [8].  Ticklegrass seed is not
available commercially, but it is produced at the Plant Materials Center
in Bridger, Montana [4,29].  Seed can be collected at a rate of
approximately 3.3 ounces per hour (95 g/hr) [29].  Ticklegrass produces
lush growth in the first year if fertilized.  In field trials near Tent
Mountain, Alberta, it produced greater than 20 percent cover in
fertilized plots in the first growing season [15].  In alpine areas,
seeds should be planted in the fall to avoid breaking dormancy and to
allow for optimal growth in the spring [29].  Ticklegrass is very
effective at seed dispersal, and it is not necessary to plant seeds in
areas where a source is nearby [15].

Ticklegrass increases in response to grazing [46].  Because the plant is
not readily grazed after flowering, it is only utilized in the spring or
early summer.

Related categories for Species: Agrostis scabra | Ticklegrass