Table 3 . - -Species recommended for seeding rangelands in southern Idaho; characteristics, suggested planting 



depths and seeding rates- for drilled seedings , and sites recommended 



Species, planting depth , 

 and rate 



Recommended sites 



Alfalfa 



1/4 inch; 1 to 2 pounds per 

 acre, in mixture with grass. 



Bluegrass, big 



1/4 to 1/2 inch; 4 to 

 pounds per acre. 



Bluegrass , bulbous 



Surface to 1/2 inch; 5 to 

 10 pounds per acre, the 

 higher rate for broad- 

 cast seeding. 



Brome, meadow 



1/2 to 1 inch; 6 to 10 

 pounds per acre. 



Brome, mountain 



3/4 to 1 inch; 8 to 10 

 pounds per acre. 



Brome, smooth 



1/2 to 1 inch; 8 to 12 

 pounds per acre. 



Productive and palatable introduced legume. Vulner- 

 able to pocket gophers because of taproot. Creeping 

 varieties are less susceptible to damage by rodents. 

 Not persistent when grazed on rangelands . Seed 

 should be inoculated vnth nitrogen -fixing bacteria. 

 Should be seeded in spring. Not shade tolerant. 



Long-lived native bunchgrass. Yields much palatable 

 foliage early in spring, but becomes unpalatable ear- 

 lier than most grasses. Seedlings relatively low in 

 vigor. Requires 4 to 8 years to reach full productiv- 

 ity. Because young plants are easily pulled up, 

 grazing should be deferred until roots are well 

 anchored. Somewhat shade tolerant. 



Small introduced bunchgrass, very palatable in spring. 

 Grows rapidly in early spring and dries up before sum- 

 mer. Resumes gro\\th in fall. Not highly productive . 

 Because it can become established when broadcast with- 

 out other treatment, it is useful on sites that cannot be 

 tilled. Shade tolerant. 



Long-lived bunchgrass. Reaches full productivity in 

 2 or 3 years. Moderately palatable. Shade tolerant. 



Short-lived vigorous native bunchgrass. Reaches full 

 productivity in 1 to 3 years. Volunteers well in some 

 situations . Moderately palatable . Valuable for quick 

 cover. Will be replaced by long-lived species in mix- 

 tures. Susceptible to smut. 



Long-lived introduced sod-forming grass. Very palat- Southern strains best for 



Intermediate^ and favor- 

 able sagebrush, mountain- 

 brush, and ponderosa pine 

 sites. Poor at higher ele- 

 vations in west- central 

 Idaho . 



Intermediate and favorable 

 sagebrush sites. Sunny 

 places on mountain-brush 

 and ponderosa pine ranges. 

 Me adows at lower 

 elevations . 



Sagebrush sites (except 

 the driest) , mountain- 

 brush, and ponderosa pine. 

 Especially the basaltic 

 soils between Payette and 

 Weiser Rivers. Not 

 recommended for south- 

 eastern Idaho. 



Favorable sagebrush sites 

 and higher ranges. 

 Meadows . 



Weedy openings at high 

 altitudes and on timber 

 bums . 



able and productive . Seedlings not vigorous , but once 

 established , plants spread vegetatively to provide full 

 stands. Notable ability to suppress reinvasion of 

 undesirable vegetation. Shade tolerant. 



mountain-brush and favor- 

 able sites in the sagebrush 

 zone. Northern strains 

 have been best on higher 

 elevation mountain range - 

 lands. Meadows. 



^ Rates should be adjusted for other seeding methods (see pages 5ff.) and for mixtures (see page 15). 



The adjectives "intermediate" and "favorable" describing sagebrush sites are defined in the text, pages 17 



and 18. 

 12 



