'Jose' Tall Wheatgrass
Scientific Name: Agropyron elgongatum (Host) P. Beauv.
Short Description: 'Jose' ,a variety of Tall wheatgrasses, also called Rush wheatgrass, is a cool-season bunchgrass adapted to a wide range of soils and climates. 'Jose' is best known for being one of the most saline or alkali tolerant of the cultivated grasses.
Description: Tall wheatgrass is a cool-season long-lived perennial bunchgrass originating from Turkey in 1909 and now is found throughout most of the western United States. 'Jose' ranges in height from 3 feet to as much as 6 feet under the most ideal conditions. It is recommended in areas with an annual precipitation of more than 14 inches. One of the strongest characteristics of 'Jose' is it's ability to thrive in very wet, alkaline soils such as greasewood and saltgrass sites where the water table is from a few inches to several feet below ground surface. It has been cited to withstand as much as 1% soluble salts and increase production yields with salinity levels of 6000 to 18,000 ppm. 'Jose' is a late maturing grass enabling the producer to extend the grazing period over winter annual small grains. 'Jose' can be planted with the typical grain drill or broadcast with a spreader. 'Jose' responds favorably to the addition of nitrogen fertilizer and is most palatable during the early spring months. 'Jose' forage is best suited for maintaining mature animals since it produces a consistent quantity of forage, but generally not sufficient quality for stocker or growing animals without protein supplementation.