• IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE
• PALATABILITY
• NUTRITIONAL VALUE
• COVER VALUE
• VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES
• OTHER USES AND VALUES
• MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE:

When actively growing, galleta provides good to excellent forage for cattle and horses and fair forage for domestic sheep [17,50]. Although not preferred, all classes of livestock may use galleta when it is dry [50].

Domestic sheep show greater use in winter than summer months and typically feed upon central portions of galleta tufts, leaving coarser growth around the edges [53].

Desert bighorn sheep of the Mojave Desert utilize galleta as forage [85].

PALATABILITY:

Galleta provides moderately palatable forage when actively growing and relatively unpalatable forage during dormant periods [23,47,92]. Galleta also provides usable forage after winter curing [8].

Galleta may prove somewhat coarse to domestic sheep [42].

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

Galleta is a poor source of carotene and phosphorus and ranked fair in protein value [17,88]. Protein content is drastically reduced after winter curing [88,94]. However, galleta is relatively higher in digestible protein than are most desert grasses within winter ranges [17].

Galleta is lower in energy than the majority of desert grasses [17]. Nutritive quality of galleta in various stages, expressed as percent dry matter, is as follows [23]:

	Aerial part, fresh, mid-bloom	Aerial part, fresh, mature	Aerial part, fresh, overripe	Aerial part without lower stems, fresh	Aerial part without lower stems, fresh, mature	Aerial part without lower stems, fresh, dormant
Ash	11.3	14.3	14.0	10.0	9.4	12.6
Crude fiber	32.2	32.9	33.0	31.8	32.0	32.0
Ether extract	1.9	1.5	1.2	1.5	1.7	1.4
N-free extract	44.7	46.4	48.0	50.2	51.7	50.0
Protein (N x 6.25)	9.9	4.9	3.6	6.5	5.2	4.0
Cattle - digestible protein	6.3	2.1	1.0	3.4	2.3	1.3
Horses - digestible protein	5.9	1.7	0.8	3.0	1.9	0.9
Sheep - Digestible protein	6.2	1.6	0.5	0.5	1.8	0.7
Ca	---	1.16	0.59	0.24	0.58	0.34
P	---	0.08	0.08	0.09	---	---
Carotene	---	0.4	---	12.7	---	---
Vitamin A equiv. IU/g	---	0.4	---	21.2	---	---

Winter nutritional value [91]:

In-vitro digestibility (%)	Crude protein (%)	Phosphorous (%)	Carotene (mg/kg)
48.2	4.6	0.08	0.40

COVER VALUE:

Galleta provides poor cover for most wildlife species. In Utah, galleta is ranked as providing fair cover for small mammals and small nongame birds [23].

VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES:

Galleta possesses several desirable characteristics for restoration of arid lands. Galleta is a good surface stabilizer [54], providing excellent surface erosion control [37,58] even within areas receiving only 7 inches (178 mm) annual precipitation [44]. Once established, galleta is extremely drought tolerant requiring little maintenance [49]. Schultz and Ostler [79] recorded 98% survival after a 4-year (1987-1991) drought in the Mojave Desert, when annual precipitation was 64% of the 25-year average.

Although drought tolerant, initial establishment of galleta in arid ranges generally requires supplemental watering. Mulching is also recommended [44]. Winkel and others [79] conducted mulching studies under greenhouse conditions with temperatures similar to the Mojave Desert. Results suggest use of 0.8 to 1.2 inches (2-3 cm) gravel or mulch layer for greater revegetation success. Layers deeper than 1.2 inches (3 cm) were found to prohibit germination. The same authors also recommend irrigation schedules that keep soil water content at matrix potentials above -1.50 mP.

Galleta's reliance upon rhizomatous expansion may lead to ecotypic variation. West and others [94] found root distribution to differ between areas according to annual availability of precipitation. Within habitats receiving the majority of precipitation in fall and winter, galleta roots were most abundant in relatively deeper areas of soil profiles. Areas where summer rains provide the majority of precipitation supported galleta plants with roots concentrated in upper soil layers.

Use of galleta for revegetation was previously limited by high seed costs. However, production of the 'Viva' cultivar has improved seed production and seedling vigor [44]. Commercial seed is now readily available [21]. Originally form north-central New Mexico, 'Viva' grows well on sites receiving 10 to 14 inches (250-350 mm) annual precipitation [44].

Knipe [63] observed 85% germination under constant temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5-32 °C) at 100% relative humidity. Sabo and others [76] recommend either a constant temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 °C) or alternating temperatures of 75 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (24-35 °C).

National regulations require seeding of native plants on disturbed mine lands in the United States [97]. Galleta has been used in several mineland rehabilitation projects in arid ecosystems [28,29,33,78]; however, quantitative data on survivorship is limited.

OTHER USES AND VALUES:

No entry

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:

Galleta is not tolerant of mechanical soil disturbance [80], showing slow recovery [34].

Rangeland management:  Within rangeland systems, galleta is generally classified as a decreaser in northern deserts and an increaser in southern deserts [46]. Cover dynamics of galleta within grazing systems are driven by competition, that is, the presence of other plant species. Perennial rangelands where galleta is dominant generally increase in species diversity following prolonged grazing. Grazing pressure usually allows for increased presence of annuals, which may overtake perennials depending upon duration of grazing [96]. Galleta is considered tolerant to highly resistant of grazing in the south, increasing as competing species cover decreases [7,20,88]. In areas where more palatable species are present, galleta acts as a facultative forage species, often showing better representation in grazed than in non-grazed and heavily grazed areas [7,20,61]. Greater use of galleta occurs in areas where other more palatable species, such as Indian ricegrass, are not as abundant [53]. 

Galleta possesses several adaptations to grazing in arid rangelands. Galleta's resistance to drought and tough, woody rhizome contribute to grazing tolerance [8]. Although tolerant of grazing, rotational schedules are recommended. Galleta requires periods of rest to maintain coverage. Continuous grazing to stubble heights less than 4 inches (10 cm) will eventually remove galleta [37,58].

Tetubuthiuron, used for sagebrush control, shows no negative effects on galleta [67].

Related categories for SPECIES: Pleuraphis jamesii | Galleta