VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Psathyrostachys juncea | Russian Wildrye 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Russian wildrye has been widely utilized for rangeland rehabilitation
and restoration throughout the Intermountain West and northern Great
Plains because of its drought resistance and salt tolerance [17,18].
Once established, this bunchgrass provides one of the best sources of
forage on many semiarid rangelands.  Plants produce abundant and
nutritious early season forage, and the dense basal leaves remain green
and retain their nutritional value longer than many other often seeded
grasses such as crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum).


PALATABILITY : 
Russian wildrye is highly palatable to both livestock and big game [15].
This cool-season bunchgrass resumes growth very early in the spring and
is often the first forage utilized on many spring ranges in Utah.  Since
plants are capable of remaining green well into the summer, Russian
wildrye is commonly selected over other grasses later in the grazing
season.  Plants also cure well.

The degree of use shown by livestock and wildlife species for Russian
wildrye in several western states is rated as follows [8]:

                      CO        MT       ND        UT        WY
 
Cattle               Good      Good     Good      Good      Good
Sheep                Good      Good     Good      Good      Good
Horses               Good      Good     Good      Good      Good
Pronghorn            ----      ----     ----      Good      Poor
Elk                  ----      ----     ----      Good      Good
Mule deer            ----      ----     ----      Good      Poor
White-tailed deer    ----      ----     ----      ----      Poor
Small mammals        ----      ----     ----      Good      ----     
Small nongame birds  ----      ----     ----      Good      ----
Upland game birds    ----      ----     ----      Good      ----
Waterfowl            ----      ----     ----      Poor      ----


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
The degree to which Russian wildrye provides environmental protection
during one or more seasons for wildlife species is as follows [8]:

                        UT         WY

Pronghorn              Poor       Poor
Elk                    Poor       Poor
Mule deer              Poor       Fair
White-tailed deer      ----       Fair 
Small mammals          Fair       Good 
Small nongame birds    Fair       Good
Upland game birds      Fair       Good 
Waterfowl              Poor       Fair 


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Psathyrostachys juncea | Russian Wildrye