Low sagebrush, although usually found in southern Idaho where rainfall is greater than on 

 sites just described, is indicative of shallow soils that limit moisture storage. For this reason, 

 sites below 7,500 feet elevation that support low sagebrush usually should be classed as "harsh" 

 regardless of how much moisture they receive. Conditions favoring seedling establishment on 

 harsh sites are uncertain, especially in dry years. Even when the most careful planting 

 procedure is used, failure can be expected in about 1 year out of 3. 



Only crested and fairway wheatgrasses have consistently shown themselves to be adapted. 

 Siberian wheatgrass has the same adaptability as crested wheatgrass and can be used wherever 

 crested wheatgrass is recommended. In eastern Idaho, Russian wildrye has yielded well, but 

 its establishment is less dependable than that of the wheatgrasses. 



Intermediate sites in the sagebrush zone have 9 to 14 inches of rainfall and are identifiable 

 by presence of vigorous big or threetip sagebrush. In the upper levels of this zone, dryfarming 

 has been successful. Where undisturbed, arrowleaf balsamroot is often an important component 

 of the vegetation. Bitterbrush and prairie June grass are usually present, and Idaho fescue often 

 grows on north exposures. 



Crested, Siberian, and fairway wheatgrasses are useful on these intermediate sites. 

 Russian wildrye produces well but is difficult to establish. Two sod formers, intermediate and 

 pubescent wheatgrasses, produce more on some of these sites than do crested or fairway wheat- 

 grass. The Amur strain of intermediate wheatgrass has had only limited testing, but shows 

 promise. Big bluegrass , tall wheatgrass, and biuebunch (including beardless) wheatgrass have 

 produced well on some areas. Bulbous bluegrass is useful where broadcasting is the only pos- 

 sible method of seeding. Alfalfa can be included in mixture with grasses when seeding is done 

 in the spring. 



Yields of some seeded grasses on these intermediate sagebrush sites are shown in table 4. 



Table 4. --Yield per acre in pounds of air-dry herbage of six species on "intermediate" sagebrush sites 



in southern Idaho in 1955, 1962, and 1963 



Location 



[ Crested 

 wheatgrass 





Fairway 

 wheatgras 



s 



Intermediate \ 

 wheatgrass 



Pubescent 

 wheatgrass 





Russian 

 wildrye 







: 1955 1962 



1963 : 



1955 1962 



1963 : 



1955 1962 1963 : 



1955 1962 



1963 : 



1955 1962 



1963 



Eastern Idaho 

 U.S. Sheep 

 Expt. Station, 

 Clark County 



1,056 1,299 



1,738 



942 1,060 



2,238 



898 1,198 2,037 



869 1,287 



2,238 



705 668 



1,794 



Michaud , 

 Power County 



660 796 



1,920 







990 1,484 2,020 



960 1,425 



2, 170 



667 566 



440 



Southern Idaho 

 Almo, 

 Cassia County 



580 1,043 



2,013 



460 1,147 



1,513 









494 1,178 



1,728 



Southwestern Idaho 

 Regina, 

 Elmore County 



800 424 



1,181 



562 390 



835 



699 250 567 



786 407 



729 



424 403 



324 



17 



