VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Sporobolus wrightii | Big Sacaton 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Big sacaton is a valuable forage species for livestock in arid and
semiarid regions.  In Arizona new spring growth of big sacaton is
readily eaten by livestock [2].  It is grazed throughout the year when
preferred grasses or forbs are not available [12,30].


PALATABILITY : 



NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Big sacaton forage quality is highest in the spring [12].  As plants
mature, leaves and stems become coarse and tough [48].  Average
percentage of crude protein contained in big sacaton forage harvested
from the South Texas Plains near Whitsett from May 1977 to February 1979
was as follows [23]:

                            spring      summer      fall      winter

defoliation treatments

none                         10.1        5.8         6.4        5.4
monthly (spring to fall)     12.3       10.3        12.1       10.9
spring and mid-summer        12.0        9.7        10.9        9.1
spring and early summer      12.3       10.2        10.6        8.9
spring                       12.9        7.5         8.6        8.6
spring/late summer/fall      12.1        7.2        10.9       10.0
mid-summer and fall          12.8        6.4        11.5       10.1


COVER VALUE : 
Big sacaton stands provide cover for wildlife and cattle in summer
[6,12].  In Arizona mature stands of big sacaton provide cover for
Botteri's sparrow and other passerines, collared peccaries, diamondback
rattlesnakes, and many rodents [2,4,53].  Botteri's sparrow reaches
maximum breeding densities in big sacaton grasslands [5].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Big sacaton grasslands favor wildlife [2]; they are utilized by rodents
and birds [2,4].  In the Southwest big sacaton grasslands have been
severely degraded by channelization, erosion, and overgrazing [4,55].
They are now present in only 5 percent of their original range [14,17].

In southeastern Arizona big sacaton stands produce large green biomass
quantities (1,500-3,200 pounds/acre [1,680-3,580 kg/ha]) in the summer
that may slow runoff, enhance infiltration, and trap sediments [12].
Big sacaton is important for impeding erosion in areas where flash
floods occur [53].  Forage is present throughout the year, but
utilization of big sacaton is limited by dead standing foliage; burning
or mowing can remove dead foliage, but may decrease forage production of
big sacaton for up to 2 years [12,14].  For maximum big sacaton forage
production, Cox and others [12] recommend grazing big sacaton in the
spring, not grazing in dry summers, and discontinuing fall grazing.
Fall defoliation exposes big sacaton crowns to below freezing
temperatures; crown exposure may reduce forage production for up to 4
years [14] or kill plants [12].  

Managers have traditionally recommended fall and winter burning or
mowing big sacaton grassland [14,17].  In southeastern Arizona Cox [14]
studied the effect of burning and mowing on big sacaton forage quantity
and quality.  Big sacaton plots were mowed to 2-inch (5 cm) stubble
height in winter (Feb. 6), summer (July 10), and fall (Oct. 2) in 1980,
1981, and 1982.  Big sacaton forage quality improved for 6 weeks after
mowing in all seasons [14,23].  Accelerated growth on summer-defoliated
plots supported the hypothesis that summer mowing has the least negative
impact on big sacaton production.  Winter and fall mowing had a
detrimental effect on production for three summer growing seasons [14].
In another study in southeastern Arizona, Cox and Morton [17] reported
that annual winter (February 27) mowing plus spring-summer grazing
improved the availability and quality of big sacaton live biomass.
However, mowing had a negative effect on growth early in the
spring-summer grazing period [17].  See PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE for
information on burning big sacaton grassland.

Related categories for Species: Sporobolus wrightii | Big Sacaton