VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Arctagrostis latifolia | Polargrass 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Grizzly bears were observed grazing large quantities of vegetation
during June and July in northwest Canada.  Polargrass was selected over
other grasses [12].  Reindeer graze polargrass in the Northwest
Territories [4].


PALATABILITY : 
Polargrass may be palatable to grizzly bears [13].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Polargrass has high food value.  Crude protein content averaged 17.8
percent over 2 years of sampling in one study [13].  In another study of
several collections of polargrass, one accession contained 19.7 percent
crude protein, more than adequate amounts of all other elements tested
(P, K, Ph, Mg, Ca), and had 66 percent in vitro digestibility.
Elemental concentrations were good for the first harvest, but were often
lowest compared to other species for the second harvest [19].


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Polargrass is suitable for revegetation programs on continental tundra
regions of northwest Canada and permafrost soils in subarctic boreal
forest habitats in Alaska [12,16].

`Kenai' and `Alyeska' are currently the only improved cultivars of
polargrass.  'Kenai' is recommended for revegetation mixes from lowlands
to alpine situations, but 'Alyeska' is a better choice for the
northernmost regions of Alaska.  'Kenai' does particularily well on
strongly acidic soils in areas with relatively cool, moist growing
seasons [18].  'Alyeska' had higher production than local collections of
polargrass planted on a simulated pipeline trench in the Northwest
Territories.  Production of unfertilized 'Alyeska' was equal to
fertilized local collections [16].

The Alaska State Plant Materials Center is currently evaluating
polargrass accessions for revegetating gravel till.  Initial plantings
were unsuccessful, so experiments were initiated for developing
techniques to improve water and nutrient conditions [11].  Polargrass
has naturally invaded and colonized abandoned oil well sites in Alaska
through tillering and seedling establishment [5,17].

The natural combustion of pyrite-bearing bituminous shale at the Smoking
Hills in the Yukon Territory has severely contaminated the atmosphere
and resulted in acid rain.  The soil and water have become acidic in the
area of deposition.  Polargrass was dominant in moderately polluted
areas, indicating potential for use in revegetation of areas with
man-caused acidification, such as near coal smelters [7].

Polargrass seeds are very small (2.3 million per pound [5 million/kg]),
resulting in poor seedling vigor.  Early growth rates are also slow,
making it a poor candidate for providing initial erosion control.
Polargrass is, however, very useful for long-term soil stabalization
[23].  Shallow sowing and low competition are required for successful
establishment [13].  Seeding rates of 5 pounds per acre (5.6 kg/ha) and
7 pounds per acre (7.8 kg/ha) are used for cultivars and local
collections, respectively [16].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Polargrass has several attributes that make it suitable for agronomic
use:  excellent forage yield potential, high level of winter hardiness,
rapid spring growth, and succulent herbage containing markedly less
dry-matter than timothy (Phleum pratense) and smooth brome (Bromus
inermis).  Once established polargrass excels in earliness and vigor of
spring growth [13].  It also shows a greater tolerance of winter ponding
and icing conditions than timothy or smooth brome and has demonstrated
immunity to snow molds (Sclerotinia borealis) which adversely affect
timothy.  Polargrass generally does not surpass smooth brome for forage
purposes in areas where smooth brome is well-adapted, but it does
provide a forage option in strongly acidic soils [18].

Related categories for Species: Arctagrostis latifolia | Polargrass