VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Muhlenbergia cuspidata | Plains Muhly 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Plains muhly plants have good forage value, but stands are often
scattered [26].  This species occurs primarily on range in good or
excellent condition.  Relative abundance of plains muhly decreases with
continued cattle grazing [18].

Elk and mule deer generally use sites dominated by warm-season grasses,
such as plains muhly.  The results of a study at Wind Cave National
Park, South Dakota, however, showed that this species was not a
significant part of their diet [24,25].


PALATABILITY : 
The palatability of plains muhly to livestock and wildlife species in
several western states has been rated as follows [5]:

                      CO      MT      ND      WY
Cattle               Fair    Fair    Fair    Fair
Sheep                Fair    Fair    Fair    Fair
Horses               Good    Good    Good    Fair
Pronghorn            ----    ----    Poor    ----
Elk                  ----    Fair    ----    ----
Mule deer            ----    Poor    Poor    ----
White-tailed deer    ----    ----    Poor    ----


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Compared with other grasses, plains muhly is rated fair in energy and
protein value [5].


COVER VALUE : 
In North Dakota, the degree to which plains muhly provides environmental
protection during one or more seasons has been rated as poor for
pronghorn and white-tailed deer but fair for mule deer [5].



VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Compared with other grasses, plains muhly's potential for use in
revegetation work was rated as follows [5]:

                               CO      MT     ND       WY
Erosion control potential    Medium   Low   Medium   Medium
Establishment requirements   ------   High  Medium   Medium
Short-term revegetation      ------   Low   Low      Low
   potential
Long-term revegetation       ------   Low   Medium   Low
   potential


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Muhlenbergia cuspidata | Plains Muhly