Grazing Bromegrass

Bromegrass plant

Scientific name

Bromus stamineus (grazing brome)Two similar perennial spp. are included in cultivar list below: Bromus coloratus (coloured brome)Bromus valdivianus (pasture brome)NB See separate Fact sheet re Bromus uniloides (praire grass)

Strengths

• Good winter growth.

• Drought tolerant.

• Tolerant of continuous grazing, heavy stocking, low soil fertility and some insect pests.

Limitations

Not suited to poorly drained/heavy textured soils.

Plant description

Plant:

Perennial, prostrate growth habit.

Stem:

Up to 800 mm.

Leaves:

Small-medium, fine leaf, densely covered in fine hair. No auricle or ligule.

Seedhead:

Open and branched, up to 200 mm long, drooping.

Seeds:

Large; awns usually > 5 mm

Pasture type and use

B stamineus is a versatile perennial pasture grass; fine leaved and finely tillered

Where it grows

Rainfall

> 550 mm

Soils

Light/medium textured; pH 5.5-7.

Temperature

5-30°C

Establishment

Companion species

Grasses: cocksfoot, phalaris, tall fescue.

Legumes: sub. and white clover.

Herbs: plantain

Sowing/planting rates as single species

25 kg/ha; sow at 5-15 mm and roll; de-awned seed is available for easier sowing. Sensitive to sowing deep.

Sowing/planting rates in mixtures

15 kg/ha

Sowing time

When soil temp. >10°C. Autumn, or early spring in long growing seasons. Sensitive to cold if sown late autumn/winter.

Inoculation

Not applicable.

Fertiliser

Correct any nutrient deficiencies, especially N, P

Bromegrass

Management

Maintenance fertliser

For optimum growth Olsen soil P > 15; but tolerates low fertility

Grazing/cutting

Requires hard, frequent grazing and is suited to heavy stocking/continuous grazing; maintain below 25 cm for optimal quality. Do not use for silage/hay.

Seed production

Commercial crops yield up to 2.7 t/ha in New Zealand.[Bromus coloratus yields approximately 1t/ha, Tasmania]

Ability to spread

Will spread from seed.

Weed potential

Establishment dependant on absence of competition.

Major pests

Seedlings damaged by red legged earthmite, blue oat mite and lucerne flea. Tolerant of NZ grass grub, argentine stem weevil [B coloratus tolerant of scarabs].

Major diseases

Few records available for these relatively new species.

Herbicide susceptibility

Glyphosate

Harvesting Bromegrass

Animal production

Feeding value

High; relatively high protein content

Palatability

Good, including seedhead, provided it is not allowed to become rank.

Production potential

Good cool season vigour

Livestock disorders/toxicity

No endophyte. No toxins.

Cultivars

Species	Cultivar	Seed source/Information
Bromus stamineus	Grasslands Gala	PGG Seeds
Bromus valdivianus	Bareno	Heritage Seeds
Bromus coloratus	Exceltas	TasGlobal Seeds

Denotes that this variety is protected by Plant Breeder’s Rights Australia

Author and date

KFM Reed, July 8th 2008