VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus | Sand Bluestem 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Sand bluestem is a valuable forage grass because of its palatability and
high yield.  It is highly preferred by livestock, especially cattle
which tend to seek it out during the summer [14,53,61].  In the
Sandhills of Nebraska, sand bluestem is a palatable and nutritious
component of upland hay [53].  Plants are eaten by small mammals, and
the seeds are consumed by upland game birds and songbirds [23,41].  In
Texas, sand bluestem is an important local food source for mule deer
[11].


PALATABILITY : 
Sand bluestem is highly palatable.  Livestock, especially cattle, tend
to seek it out during the summer growing season [14].  Sand bluestem is
most palatable in spring and summer during the green growth stage.  It
becomes tough and coarse at maturity; in Nebraska, however, it is
reportedly highly palatable throughout the year [14,32,50,53].  Sand
bluestem cures well and is utilized by horses and cattle in the winter
[32].  The relish and degree of use shown by livestock and wildlife
species for sand bluestem for several states has been rated as follows
[14,19,22,41]:

                       KS     CO     MT     ND     NE     UT     WY

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


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Nutritive value of sand bluestem varies with season [13,40,43,50,60].
Digestibility decreases with maturity but remains high enough to make
sand bluestem a fair winter forage.  Sand bluestem is more digestible
throughout the growing season than either prairie sandreed or little
bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) [13].  It has higher protein levels
than prairie sandreed, little bluestem, or sand lovegrass (Eragrostis
trichodes) but lower protein levels than switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
[13,40,60].  Sand bluestem may be somewhat deficient in phosphorus
[50,60].  Sand bluestem is considered a superior quality summer forage,
however, because of the combination of its high palatability and
chemical composition.


COVER VALUE : 
Sand bluestem often grows in large patches which retain an upright
vegetative structure.  These provide good protective cover for smaller
wildlife species.  When growing with other tall grasses, sand bluestem
provides essential nesting cover for prairie chickens, other upland game
birds, small nongame birds, and small mammals.

The degree to which sand bluestem provides environmental protection
during one or more seasons for wildlife species has been rated as
follows [19,30,41]:

                         KS     ND     NM     UT     WY  

Pronghorn               ----   poor   ----   poor   poor 
Elk                     ----   ----   ----   poor   poor
Mule deer               ----   fair   ----   poor   poor
White-tailed deer       ----   good   ----   ----   poor
Small mammals           ----   ----   ----   good   fair
Small nongame birds     ----   fair   ----   good   fair
Upland game birds       good   ----   good   good   fair
Waterfowl               ----   ----   ----   poor   poor


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Sand bluestem is currently used to revegetate disturbed sites with sandy
soil because its extensive system of roots and rhizomes allows it to
quickly stabilize such sites.  Sand bluestem has been used for
rehabilitation of (1) sandy rangelands plowed and later abandoned, (2)
sand dune "blowouts", and (3) mined lands.  Sand bluestem can be
established by broadcast seeding [34], with hay mulch underseeded with
sand bluestem and other grasses [37], or by transplanting sod [61].
Seeds of sand bluestem exhibit a number of characteristics which
indicate good potential for use in reclamation:  good seed fill, broad
range of optimal germination temperatures, and pronounced seedling
vigor, even in drought conditions [20].

Seed generally should be planted in early spring to take advantage of
soil moisture.  Seed can also be planted in fall if moisture is
sufficient; the warm soil temperatures during fall may promote maximum
germination, while the decreasing soil temperature as the season
progresses may favor seedling survival [52].  Sand bluestem is
recommended for seeding where mean annual precipitation (MAP) exceeds 14
inches (35.5 cm) [55].  Several cultivars are available, including
'Elida', 'Garden', 'Goldstrike', and 'Woodward [31,55].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Sand bluestem is an indicator of range in good condition [43,48].  It is
classified as a decreaser but can withstand considerable grazing because
of its rhizomatous habit.  With continued heavy grazing, however, it
loses vigor, develops a prostrate growth habit, and is eventually
replaced by less desirable grasses such as prairie sandreed [43,53,61].
In Nebraska sand bluestem increased in abundance and vigor following the
cessation of intensive livestock grazing.  Annual biomass significantly
increased despite below average precipitation.  The increase was
successively greater each of the 4 years of the study [45].

Related categories for Species: Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus | Sand Bluestem