'Saltillo origin' Cane bluestem

‘Saltillo origin’ cane bluestem is a native, perennial bunchgrass that is found growing from eastern Texas to central and southern Arizona, and northern Mexico. This species can be found in the oak woodland, chaparral, and semidesert grassland types in Arizona between 305 and 1,830 m in elevation.

Saltillo origin was released in 2001 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in cooperation with the University of Arizona Agricultural Experiement Station and the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was selected for release because of its overall vigor, seed production, and biomass production.

Description

‘Saltillo origin’ cane bluestem is described as: Culms erect or geniculate at the base, tending to become decumbent and much-branched below in age, mostly 60 to 120 cm tall. Culm Nodes bearded with hairs mostly 1-3 mm long, these typically erect and not widely spreading. Blades firm, linear, 2-7 mm broad, often 25-30 cm or more long but the upper culm blades greatly reduced. Panicle mostly 7-13 mm long, often partially included in upper sheath, with straight main axis and numerous primary branches mostly 4-9 cm long, these erect or loosely spreading at tips, the basal ones moderately rebranched. Internodes of Panicle Branches and Pedicels more or less densely villous on the thickened margins, with broad, membranous central region. Sessile Spikelet 4.5-7.3 mm long excluding awn. First Glume usually sparsely hairy below the middle. Lemma Awn 20-30 mm or more long, geniculate and twisted.

Adaption

Saltillo origin is adapted to the following textural classes: clay loam, sandy loam, loam, fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, and gravelly and rocky soils. Saltillo origin cane bluestem is best adapted to Major Land Resource Areas 30-2, 39-3, 38-1, 40-1, 40-3, 41-1, 41-2, and 41-3.

Establishment

In southern Arizona the recommended planting period for rangeland applications using Saltillo origin is from late June through late August coinciding with seasonal summer moisture. The planting rate is 1.5 PLS pounds per acre at a planting depth of ½ inch. It is recommended that Saltillo origin be utilized as part of a seeding mixture comprising approximately 15-30% of the total mix; however, the percent composition may vary depending on the seeding objective. Site characteristics and condition influence the components of a seeding mixture. Compatible spec