Sand Dropseed

More info for the terms: cover, grassland, seed

A cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)-sand dropseed-red threeawn grassland community in Utah was evaluated for 5 years to determine response to fire. The foliage cover (% of surface covered) before and after the fire (1956) was as follows [27]:

1955
1957
1958
1960
1961

cheatgrass
37.9
64.2
55.5
59.2
63.3

sand dropseed
14.2
10.9
7.6
9.6
7.3

red threeawn
11.5
3.4
6.2
9.9
5.0



Few sand dropseed plants were completely killed by the fire [27].

Sand dropseed phytomass was observed after an October lightning fire in a Nebraska sandhills grassland. Results for the following growing season are summarized below [92]:


Burned Area Phytomass g/m2

June
July
August
October

3.0
4.7
7.6
11.7




Unburned Area Phytomass g/m2

June
July
August
October

4.6
2.7
4.7
8.7

The percent occurrence of sand dropseed was monitored 4 and 8 years following a spring burn within a redberry juniper habitat in Texas. No significant differences were seen at 4 and 8 years postburn when compared to the unburned control [84]. In the Texas high plains, a decrease in basal diameter was observed with burns two years in a row, regardless of burn season (spring or fall). Single burns resulted in both increased diameters and no change. Seed stalk production decreased with fall and spring burning [128].



 

sand dropseed

More info for the term: cover

The degree to which sand dropseed provides cover for livestock and wildlife has been rated as follows [37]:

ND
UT
WY

Small mammals
----
Fair
Fair

Small nongame birds
Good
Fair
Fair

Upland game birds
Good
Fair
Poor

Waterfowl
----
Poor
Poor

In southwest Kansas, sand dropseed provides overhead and ground cover for the lesser
prairie chicken, which is listed as vulnerable to extirpation within the state [8].



 

More info for the terms: rhizome, warm-season

Sand dropseed is a warm-season [15,123], shallow-rooted [65], drought resistant [18,26,32], perennial bunch grass [123]. The solid stemmed [26] small tufts [61] of sand dropseed reach 12 to 40 inches (30-100 cm) tall [6,15].

Sand dropseed is a polymorphic species [103,132]. Leaf blades range from 3 to 10 inches (8-25 cm) long and 8/100 to 2/10 of an inch (2-5 mm) wide [51]. The panicle is purplish to lead colored [91,98], with the inflorescence ranging 6 to 16 inches (15-40 cm) long [61,123] and 1 to 6 inches (2-15 cm) wide [123]. A sheath partially encloses the inflorescence [85].

The roots of sand dropseed are fine, 2/100 of an inch (0.5 mm) or less in diameter, stretching from a short stocky rhizome [35]. These fine roots may stretch laterally up to 10 inches (25 cm) and up to 31 inches (78 cm) down through the soil [35]. At 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm) below the soil surface, lateral roots branch and rebranch continuously forming a dense, soil binding mat [35].



 

Sand dropseed occurs from British Columbia south to southern California and New Mexico, and east to Ontario, Quebec, and Maine and most of the U.S. except for the extreme southeast [62]. Sand dropseed also occurs in Mexico and southern Canada [59].

More info for the terms: fire regime, woodland

Sand dropseed is usually killed or topkilled by fire [60,105,120]. Sand dropseed has the potential for postfire regeneration and seedling establishment as seeds within burned areas may remain viable [1]. However, the degree of postfire seedling establishment relative to unburned areas is under debate [1,87]. Postfire regeneration responses may differ according to relative abiotic and biotic site characteristics [1,87].

FIRE REGIMES:

The following table describes historic FIRE REGIMES for many communities where sand dropseed occurs.

Find further fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under "Find FIRE REGIMES".

Community or Ecosystem Dominant Species Fire Return Interval Range in Years
California chaparral Adenostoma and/or Arctostaphylos spp.
bluestem prairie Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii-Schizachyrium scoparium 23,82]
Nebraska sandhills prairie Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus-Schizachyrium scoparium
sagebrush steppe Artemisia tridentata/Pseudoroegneria spicata 20-70 [23]
basin big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. tridentata 12-43 [113]
mountain big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana 5-15 [140]
Wyoming big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis 10-70 (40)** [131,140]
coastal sagebrush Artemisia californica
saltbush-greasewood Atriplex confertifolia-Sarcobatus vermiculatus
desert grasslands Bouteloua eriopoda and/or Pleuraphis mutica 5-100
plains grasslands Bouteloua spp.
blue grama-needle-and-thread grass-western wheatgrass Bouteloua gracilis-Hesperostipa comata-Pascopyrum smithii
blue gramma-buffalo grass Bouteloua gracilis-Buchloe dactyloides
grama-galleta steppe Bouteloua gracilis-Pleuraphis jamesii
blue grama-tobosa prairie Bouteloua gracilis-Pleuraphis mutica
cheatgrass Bromus tectorum

blackbrush Coleogyne ramosissima
Arizona cypress Cupressus arizonica
California steppe Festuca-Danthonia spp.
juniper-oak savanna Juniperus ashei-Quercus virginiana
western juniper Juniperus occidentalis 20-70
Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum
pinyon-juniper Pinus-Juniperus spp.
Pacific ponderosa pine* Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa 1-47
Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine* Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum 2-10
mesquite Prosopis glandulosa
mesquite-buffalo grass Prosopis glandulosa-Buchloe dactyloides
Texas savanna Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa
California oakwoods Quercus spp.
oak-hickory Quercus-Carya spp.
oak-juniper woodland (Southwest) Quercus-Juniperus spp.
northeastern oak-pine Quercus-Pinus spp. 10 to
oak savanna Quercus macrocarpa/Andropogon gerardii-Schizachyrium scoparium 2-14
shinnery Quercus mohriana
chestnut oak Q. prinus 3-8
northern red oak Quercus rubra 10 to
post oak-blackjack oak Quercus stellata-Q. marilandica
black oak Quercus velutina
live oak Quercus virginiana 10 to23]


*Fire-return interval varies widely; trends in variation are noted in the Species Review.

**(Mean).

More info for the term: competition

In general sand dropseed has the ability to show positive responses to fire in conjunction with reduced competition from neighboring species [134].

More info on this topic.

More info for the term: hemicryptophyte

RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM [106]:






Hemicryptophyte

Sand dropseed occurs in several soil types [103,123,132] and elevations [123] with site characteristics varying according to region. Within the Nebraska sandhills, preferred sites are sandier areas [136] of dry valley bottoms and dune base slopes [47]. Clay soils [36,103], silty clay loam [36], sandy loam [34], sandy alluvial soils [71], and gravelly soils [31,123,130] are also inhabited. In general, open [102] and disturbed areas with permeable, sandy soils [69,70,102] are preferred. Dry sandy ridges and plains are preferred in south-central New Mexico [26]. In southern Ontario, dry prairies with coarse sand and sandy loam are preferred [41].

Although sand dropseed prefers well-drained and permeable soils, populations are not restricted. Areas subjected to seasonal flooding are also inhabited by sand dropseed. Sand dropseed occurs under cottonwoods (Populus spp.) within intermittent streambeds [3] and upland areas of playa lakes [63]. Sand dropseed is also found within cottonwood communities of the South Platte and Arkansas river floodplains. [86].

Sand dropseed does not require high amounts of soil moisture. Populations are widespread in the Great Basin where summer rains are inconsistent from year to year and moderate in
long-term averages [30].

Some states and relative elevational ranges where sand dropseed occurs:


Arizona 200 to 7000 feet (60-2100 m)[70]

California 100 to 900 feet (30-270 m)

Colorado 3500 to 8000 feet (1100-2400 m)

Utah up to 7,000 feet [130]




 

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

More info for the term: cover

SAF COVER TYPES [40]:

14 Northern pin oak


40 Post oak-blackjack oak

42 Bur oak

44 Chestnut oak

46 Eastern redcedar

52 White oak-black oak-northern red oak

53 White oak

63 Cottonwood

66 Ash juniper-redberry (Pinchot) juniper

67 Mohrs (shin) oak

68 Mesquite

69 Sand pine

72 Southern scrub oak

110 Black oak

210 Interior Douglas-fir


220 Rocky Mountain juniper

229 Pacific Douglas-fir


233 Oregon white oak

235 Cottonwood-willow

236 Bur oak

237 Interior ponderosa pine

238 Western juniper

239 Pinyon-juniper

240 Arizona cypress

241 Western live oak

242 Mesquite

243 Sierra Nevada mixed conifer

246 California black oak

247 Jeffrey pine

248 Knobcone pine


250 Blue oak-foothills pine

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

More info for the term: shrub

ECOSYSTEMS [48]:

FRES14 Oak-pine

FRES15 Oak-hickory

FRES20 Douglas-fir

FRES21 Ponderosa pine

FRES26 Lodgepole pine

FRES28 Western hardwoods

FRES29 Sagebrush

FRES30 Desert shrub

FRES31 Shinnery

FRES32 Texas savanna

FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe

FRES34 Chaparral-mountain shrub

FRES35 Pinyon-juniper

FRES36 Mountain grasslands

FRES38 Plains grasslands

FRES39 Prairie

FRES40 Desert grasslands

FRES42 Annual grasslands

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the terms: forest, shrub, woodland

KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS [83]:

K005 Mixed conifer forest

K010 Ponderosa shrub forest

K011 Western ponderosa forest

K012 Douglas-fir forest

K016 Eastern ponderosa forest

K017 Black Hills pine forest

K018 Pine-Douglas-fir forest

K019 Arizona pine forest

K022 Great Basin pine forest

K023 Juniper-pinyon woodland

K024 Juniper steppe woodland


K026 Oregon oakwoods

K027 Mesquite bosques

K028 Mosaic of K002 and K026

K029 California mixed evergreen forest

K030 California oakwoods

K031 Oak-juniper woodland

K032 Transition between K031 and K037

K033 Chaparral

K037 Mountain-mahogany-oak scrub

K038 Great Basin sagebrush

K039 Blackbrush

K040 Saltbush-greasewood

K043 Paloverde-cactus shrub

K044 Creosotebush-tarbush

K045 Ceniza shrub


K047 Fescue-oatgrass

K048 California steppe


K050 Fescue-wheatgrass

K051 Wheatgrass-bluegrass


K053 Grama-galleta steppe

K054 Grama-tobosa prairie

K055 Sagebrush steppe

K056 Wheatgrass-needlegrass shrubsteppe

K057 Galleta-threeawn shrubsteppe

K058 Grama-tobosa shrubsteppe


K060 Mesquite savanna

K061 Mesquite-acacia savanna

K062 Mesquite-live oak savanna

K063 Foothills prairie

K064 Grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass

K065 Grama-buffalo grass

K066 Wheatgrass-needlegrass

K067 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass

K068 Wheatgrass-grama-buffalo grass

K069 Bluestem-grama prairie

K070 Sandsage-bluestem prairie

K071 Shinnery

K074 Bluestem prairie

K075 Nebraska Sandhills prairie

K076 Blackland prairie

K077 Bluestem-sacahuista prairie

K081 Oak savanna

K082 Mosaic of K074 and K100


K084 Cross Timbers

K085 Mesquite-buffalo grass

K086 Juniper-oak savanna

K087 Mesquite-oak savanna

K088 Fayette prairie

K089 Black Belt



K099 Maple-basswood forest

K100 Oak-hickory


K104 Appalachian oak forest

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following Rangeland Cover Types (as classified by the Society for Range Management, SRM):

More info for the terms: association, cover, forb, grassland, shrub, shrubland, woodland

SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES [118]:

101 Bluebunch wheatgrass

102 Idaho fescue

104 Antelope bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

105 Antelope bitterbrush-Idaho fescue

106 Bluegrass scabland

107 Western juniper/big sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass

110 Ponderosa pine-grassland


201 Blue oak woodland

203 Riparian woodland

206 Chamise chaparral

207 Scrub oak mixed chaparral

209 Montane shrubland

210 Bitterbrush

211 Creosotebush scrub

212 Blackbush

215 Valley grassland

216 Montane meadows

304 Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass

309 Idaho fescue-western wheatgrass

310 Needle-and-thread-blue grama

311 Rough fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass

314 Big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

315 Big sagebrush-Idaho fescue

316 Big sagebrush-rough fescue

320 Black sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

321 Black sagebrush-Idaho fescue

322 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany-bluebunch wheatgrass

401 Basin big sagebrush

402 Mountain big sagebrush

403 Wyoming big sagebrush

405 Black sagebrush

406 Low sagebrush

408 Other sagebrush types

409 Tall forb

412 Juniper-pinyon woodland

413 Gambel oak

414 Salt desert shrub

415 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany

416 True mountain-mahogany

422 Riparian


501 Saltbush-greasewood

502 Grama-galleta

503 Arizona chaparral

504 Juniper-pinyon pine woodland

505 Grama-tobosa shrub

506 Creosotebush-bursage

508 Creosotebush-tarbush

509 Transition between oak-juniper woodland and mahogany-oak association

601 Bluestem prairie

602 Bluestem-prairie sandreed

603 Prairie sandreed-needlegrass

604 Bluestem-grama prairie

605 Sandsage prairie

606 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass

607 Wheatgrass-needlegrass

608 Wheatgrass-grama-needlegrass

609 Wheatgrass-grama

610 Wheatgrass

611 Blue grama-buffalo grass

612 Sagebrush-grass

613 Fescue grassland

614 Crested wheatgrass

615 Wheatgrass-saltgrass-grama

701 Alkali sacaton-tobosagrass

702 Black grama-alkali sacaton

703 Black grama-sideoats grama

704 Blue grama-western wheatgrass

705 Blue grama-galleta

706 Blue grama-sideoats grama

707 Blue grama-sideoats grama-black grama

708 Bluestem-dropseed

709 Bluestem-grama

710 Bluestem prairie

711 Bluestem-sacahuista prairie

712 Galleta-alkali sacaton

713 Grama-muhly-threeawn

714 Grama-bluestem

715 Grama-buffalo grass

716 Grama-feathergrass

717 Little bluestem-Indiangrass-Texas wintergrass

718 Mesquite-grama

720 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (dunes)

722 Sand sagebrush-mixed prairie

724 Sideoats grama-New Mexico feathergrass-winterfat

727 Mesquite-buffalo grass

728 Mesquite-granjeno-acacia

729 Mesquite

730 Sand shinnery oak

731 Cross timbers-Oklahoma

732 Cross timbers-Texas (little bluestem-post oak)

733 Juniper-oak


734 Mesquite-oak

801 Savanna

802 Missouri prairie

Sand dropseed is consumed rapidly by fire [120]. Individual plants are badly damaged [60,105] to completely killed by fire, with younger plants suffering less than older plants [64].

Sand dropseed provides fair to good forage for livestock [51,69,123] and poor forage for wildlife [51,123]. Sand dropseed's value as livestock forage is regional and dependent upon season. In spring and summer months, sand dropseed is a useful source of forage in Arizona [6]. In southwestern regions, sand dropseed provides good winter forage [130].

Stems at the base of sand dropseed remain green the majority of winter. If fall rains are adequate, sand dropseed may have a period of renewed growth, producing new shoots in old sheaths [31]. The persistent green base throughout winter makes sand dropseed an important desert winter range plant [130]. Sand dropseed stays green longer on sand than clay [130]. A seasonal evaluation of cattle in New Mexico reports that use within blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) upland range sites is greatest in September, January, and March [56]. In general, sand dropseed provides fair winter forage for domestic sheep [70,72]. However, it is not a preferred winter forage for domestic sheep in Utah. When other forage species are abundant sand dropseed is used lightly or not at all [54]. Sand dropseed is most preferred by cattle of dune rangelands [47].

Large mammals in general show little use of sand dropseed. Sand dropseed is not preferred by pronghorn [10], bison [100], elk, and deer [93]. The diet of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Colorado
includes sand dropseed [109].

Small mammals and birds utilize sand dropseed to a greater extent than large mammals. Scaled quail in the Oklahoma panhandle feed on sand dropseed [116]. Seeds are fed upon by rodents in the Shinnery oak-honey mesquite (Quercus havardii-Prosopis glandulosa) grasslands of New Mexico [13]. In Kansas, sand dropseed provides a major food source for black-tailed jackrabbits [38]. From June to August, sand dropseed is a preferred forage for black-tailed prairie dogs in Colorado [55]. Black-tailed prairie dogs in Oklahoma and South Dakota also utilize sand dropseed [58,96].

More info for the terms: association, climax, grassland, succession

Sand dropseed is a climax species in 3 or more associations and a member of the ancestral mixed prairie [31]. Common grass associates are poverty, purple, red and Woton's three awn (Aristida divaricata, A. purpurea, A. purpurea var. longiseta, A. pansa), big, sand and little bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii, A. gerardii var. pavaipilus, Schizachyrium scoparium), black , blue and hairy grama (Bouteloua eriopoda, B. gracilis, B. hirsuta), buffalo grass (Buchloe
dactyloides),galleta (Hilaria jamesii), Texas wintergrass (Nassella leucotricha), Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera), spike and mesa dropseed (Sporobolus flexuous, S. contractus), needlegrass (Heterostipa comata).



Sand dropseed is listed as an indicator or a dominant species in the following publications:




Ecology of fire in short-grass prairie communities of the Kiowa National Grassland [43]

Phyto-edaphic communities of the upper Rio Puerco watershed, New Mexico [44]

Preliminary habitat types of a semiarid grassland [45]

Classification and ordination of seral plant communities [71]

Grassland ranges in the southern interior of British Columbia [89]

The palouse grassland association in northern Utah [121]

The grasslands of the southern interior of British Columbia [125]

Plant communities and secondary succession in south-central South Dakota [126]

Vegetation of the northern part of Cherry County, Nebraska [127]

More info for the term: graminoid

Graminoid

More info for the terms: frequency, presence

Abiotic and biotic environmental factors are important regulators of sand dropseed grazing response. Responses to grazing are variable, with increases, decreases and no changes reported [17,20,25,37,57,66,80,81,85,104,107,123,132]. A 59-year data set describing grazing responses in a shadscale community found sand dropseed coverage more responsive to climate and plant associates than grazing pressure. Increase in sand dropseed coverage corresponded spatially with lower coverage of winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata), shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia) and budsage (Artemisia spinescens) [5]. Sand dropseed response to domestic sheep winter grazing within the intermountain rangelands of Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada was directly related to the relative availability of other palatable grasses. An indirect relationship was seen between sand dropseed use and the presence of Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides) [73]. A 12-year evaluation within the same region also found a direct positive response for sand dropseed to spring and summer precipitation [73]. Overall, sand dropseed shows good recovery to grazing in water stressed habitats [24,57]. Within arid shrublands, sand dropseed response to different grazing regimes is directly related to previous and current summer precipitation [97]. In the Nebraskan sandhills a direct positive correlation between fall moisture and regrowth was observed [47].

The New Mexico State University Extension recommends the following for seeding New Mexico rangelands with sand dropseed [4]:


Seeding Rate (lbs/acre)

Seeds/ft2(@ 1 lb/acre)
Drilling 40'' rows
Broadcast or drilling (20'' or less)
Broadcast critical area
Soil adaptation

123.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
sandy, loam

Sand dropseed shows variable responses to herbicides used for control of woody plant species. Tebuthiuron, used for sand shinnery oak control in Texas, had no effect on sand dropseed forage quality [14]. Similar response was observed using pelleted tebuthiuron to control big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) populations [88]. The use of 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid on a honey mesquite dominant habitat in Texas had no deleterious effects on sand dropseed populations. Overall production was greater in herbicide treated areas [75]. Picloram applied from June to October for control of redberry juniper (Juniperus
erythrocarpa) in Texas reduced sand dropseed growth when spray came into direct contact with plants [117]. A similar study saw greater herbage yields under redberry juniper killed with picloram [52].

Sand dropseed does not compete well within pinyon-juniper (Pinus-Juniperus spp.) woodlands. Three years after the removal of pinyon-juniper, the overall production of sand dropseed increased by 31 times the original amount [28].

Sand dropseed does not respond well to severe soil disturbance. Spring discking within a mesquite rangeland of northwest Texas had significant deleterious effects (p &lt 0.05) upon sand dropseed coverage and frequency [133].

More info for the term: fresh

Sand dropseed is rated fair in energy value and poor in protein [37]. As a winter forage species of the Great Basin, sand dropseed provides excellent nutrition but is deficient in phosphorus, carotene and protein [31].

Nutritional value for livestock in accordance with relative phenological stage is [94]:

Aerial fresh, mature Aerial without lower stem, fresh, mature Aerial without lower stem fresh, dormant
Dry matter 100 100 100
Ash 6.3 9.4 9.3
Crude fiber 36.7 33.3 36.3
Ether extract 1.4 1.5 1.1
N-free extract 49.9 49.3 47.9
Protein (N × 6.25) 5.7 6.4 5.5
Digestible protein
   cattle 2.7 3.3 2.5
   horses 2.4 3.0 2.2
   domestic goats 1.9 2.5 1.7
   domestic sheep 2.3 2.9 2.1
Calcium 0.30 0.32 0.40
Phosphorus 0.13 0.13 0.11

AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
HI
ID
IL
IN

IA
KS
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO

MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH

OK
OR
PA
RI
SD
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA

WV
WI
WY
DC







AB
BC
MB
NB
ON
PQ








MEXICO

Sand dropseed is an edible grass used by Native Americans [79].

Sand dropseed is palatable when green [11,18], but palatability declines with maturity [69,70,123]. Palatability varies from one region to another [70,130].

The palatability of sand dropseed to livestock and wildlife species has been rated as follows [37]:

CO
MT
ND
UT
WY

Cattle
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair

Domestic sheep
Fair
Fair
Fair
Poor
Fair

Horses
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair

Pronghorn
----
Poor
Poor
Fair
Poor

Elk
----
Poor
----
Fair
Good

Mule Deer
----
Poor
Poor
Fair
Fair

White-tailed deer
----
----
Poor
----
Poor

Small mammals
Good
----
----
Good
Good

Small nongame birds
Good
----
----
Fair
Good

Upland game birds
----
----
Poor
Fair
Good

Waterfowl
----
----
----
Poor
Poor

More info on this topic.

More info for the terms: phenology, seed

Phenology of sand dropseed corresponds to water availability. Sand dropseed has almost immediate response to available soil moisture [26]. In general, sand dropseed starts growth late spring [24,103,130] with seed maturing late summer to early fall [22,123]. This is slightly different in arid habitats. In the Chihuahuan desert of New Mexico, flowering was observed to begin in August with fruiting
occurring in October [78]. Development occurs rapidly during periods of abundant moisture [26] with induced dormancy during periods of drought between rains
[26]. Large amounts of late summer precipitation provide for the possibility of 2 or more reproductive phases [15].

The extent of damage imposed by fire upon sand dropseed is related to season of burn. Early spring burns show positive responses in sand dropseed. Within a western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) community in South Dakota, a spring burn saw increased sand dropseed standing crop for 3 and 4 postburn years [134]. Results for two year successional spring burns in South Dakota also showed increased sand dropseed standing crop [134]. Spring burning in southern Nebraska was associated with positive sand dropseed response [115].

Under periods of water stress sand dropseed's ability to withstand fire is inhibited [60,139]. Drought and fire together cause greater deleterious effects than fire in wet periods [138]. In the northern Great Plains, sand dropseed is usually harmed by fire; however, tolerance to fire was observed when winter and spring precipitation reached levels 40% greater than normal [60]. During wet years (0-40% above normal precipitation) small and medium sized sand dropseed showed no negative responses to fire [137]. Effects are generally negatively associated when sand dropseed is actively growing compared to dormant phases [7,128].






 

More info for the terms: graminoid, secondary colonizer, seed, tussock

POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY [119]:

Tussock graminoid

Initial colonizer - on-site seed
Secondary colonizer - on-site seed

More info for the terms: grassland, presence, scarification, seed, woodland

Regeneration is accomplished by seed which sets May to August [51] and by tillering from residual plant parts [123]. A prolific seed producer [31,34,50,60,91], one panicle of sand dropseed has yielded 10,000 seeds [22]. Sand dropseed produces small seed (5,298,000 seeds/lb) [4]. During seed maturation, the upper leaf sheath partially encloses the inflorescence. As the sheath weathers away, seed is disseminated [41]. Weathering of the previous growing season's leaf sheath and dispersal of seed may continue after new growth begins [31]. Rabbits may also be involved in dissemination of seed [21,108].

Contribution of seed to the seed bank is well documented, even within sites where sand dropseed is currently missing [50,110] or low in coverage [29,101]. This large contribution to the seed bank, both within and outside of sand dropseed communities, is consistent with the small seed size and wind dispersal [34]. An evaluation in western Iowa observed a large contribution of viable seed to the seed bank of a deciduous woodland (Cornus and Ulnus spp.) downhill from a ridge top grassland [110].

The number of viable seeds produced and relative seedling vigor are extremely variable for sand dropseed [1,32,39,76,110]. An evaluation in Colorado reported excellent germination and rapid growth [32]. Other studies have found sub-optimal germination and seedling response [39,76]. Compared to other species within the Kansas mixed-grass prairie, sand dropseed produces larger numbers of seed during periods of water stress [22]. In general, seedlings are usually slow to develop [6] but are persistent and drought resistant [6,60].

Studies evaluating germination cues recognize several methods to increase germination. Pricking seeds and scarifying with coarse sand helps germination [74]. Trampling by cattle provides another form of physical scarification. Good response was seen in burned blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima spp.) areas aerially seeded and then trampled by cattle [67].

A warm temperature germination requirement suggests seedling emergence and survival are related to late spring environmental conditions [68]. Alternating temperatures between cold and warm gives the best germination responses. The presence of light in conjunction with alternating temperatures also increases germination percentages. For specific temperatures and alternation times please see references [112,114].

In the Nebraska sandhills, the highest germination percent came from seeds within the top 2 inches (5cm) of the soil [101].



 

More info on this topic.

This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS [12]:




3 Southern Pacific Border

4 Sierra Mountains

5 Columbia Plateau

6 Upper Basin and Range

7 Lower Basin and Range

8 Northern Rocky Mountains

9 Middle Rocky Mountains

10 Wyoming Basin

11 Southern Rocky Mountains

12 Colorado Plateau

13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont

14 Great Plains

15 Black Hills Uplift

16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands

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Sand dropseed is a colonizer of drought disturbed and previously cultivated lands. Invasion and establishment upon previously abandoned cultivated lands in the southern plains has been observed [132]. Within semi-arid mixed prairie landscapes, sand dropseed is one of the 1st to colonize denuded sandy to silty soil rangelands [60]. Sand dropseed was the principle grass within a field 14 years out of cultivation in Colorado [32]. Sand dropseed is also good at colonizing open spaces associated with heavy grazing [95].

In Texas, sand dropseed is a common invader of short-grass and mid-height grass mesquite/buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) communities [11].



 

The currently accepted name of sand dropseed is Sporobolus cryptandrus
(Torr.) A. Gray (Poaceae) [53, 59,61,62]

More info for the terms: grassland, litter, seed

Seed source is an important consideration for any reseeding project involving sand dropseed. A strong similarity in morphology and phenological development is seen between seedlings and the parent [103,114]. Heritable ecotypic variation in plant height, crown area and the number of inflorescences has been correlated with growing season length; increases are seen from north to south and from high to low elevations [103].

Sand dropseed is recommended as a component of grass seed mixtures for sandy and heavy to semi-sandy soils of New Mexico rangelands [18]. Good results are seen reseeding dry low lands receiving less than 9 inches (230mm) of precipitation within rangelands of Utah, Nevada, southern Idaho and western Wyoming [102].

Prolific seed production and large contributions to the soil seed bank are consistent throughout the many habitats of sand dropseed and may be linked to the initiation of sand dropseed within denuded landscapes [32]. A pioneer plant in disturbed areas [24], sand dropseed is an invader of sandy soils especially over grazed and blown-out areas [51]. Establishment within areas previously under water stress is also seen [25]. Within areas suffering from water stress, sand dropseed is an early native recolonizer and shows quick recovery [34]. Reseeded stands on desert grassland ranges had slow development, but seedlings were persistent and drought resistant [6]. Sand dropseed's rooting system helps stabilize sand hills and dunes [16,99].

Several studies have evaluated sand dropseed under different mulching practices within rangelands. When reseeding, sand dropseed responds well to straw mulch [17,111]. In a desert grassland, sand dropseed had increased germination and survival 1st and 2nd growing season when barley straw mulch was used [111]. The following study [49] provides a summary of the effect of litter upon seed bank germination within Arizona chaparral. Results are the number of seedlings emerging from four flats of 2 square feet of soil over a 72-day watering period [49]:




1Check
2Burn
3Removed
4Scarify

10
0
19
8



1Check = litter left in place on soil surface

2Burn = litter burned under 3 inches (8 cm) of excelsior

3Removed = litter carefully removed by hand

4Scarify = litter and soil top scarified with hand garden tool

Use of sand dropseed for revegetating soils contaminated by heavy metals has varied results. No germination was observed for sand dropseed used in a seeding mixture applied to an abandoned New Mexico coal surface mine recently covered with 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm) of topsoil [46]. Container grown plugs of sand dropseed were transplanted in May, 1980, to revegetate a coalfield in Utah. Percent survival the 1st year was 91%; the 2nd year, 73%. Mortality observed the 1st year occurred only for sand dropseed individuals planted adjacent to plots of well-established cool season grasses [42].




Soil amendments (hay and composted bark) applied in 1977 to the Utah coalfields had no effect on survival. In the San Juan Basin of New Mexico, sand dropseed was used in a seeding mixture for reclaiming surface coal mines. In areas receiving less than 7 inches (180 mm) annual precipitation sand dropseed was dominant [118]. Sand dropseed is not recommended for revegetating
Selenium (Se) enriched soils in Texas. Forage tissues retain high Se levels and shoot weights are
drastically lowered within soils of high Se concentration [65].

Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray, Man. 576. 1848
Agrost is cryplandra Torr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. 1: 151. 1824.
Vilfa tenacissima var. fuscicola Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 239. 1839. (Type from Menzies Island, Columbia River, Washington.)
Vilfa cryplandra Torr.; Trin. Mem. Acad. St.-Petersb. VI. 6 2 : 69. 1840. (Based on Agroslis cryplandra Torr.)
Vilfa friniana Steud. Syn. Gram. 156. 1854. (Type from British Columbia.)
Sporobolus cryptandrus vaginalus Lunell, Am. Midi. Nat. 2: 123. 1911. (Type from Benson County, North Dakota.)
Sporobolus cryptandrus var. involutus Farwell, Rep. Mich. Acad. 22: 179. 1921. (Type from Rochester, Michigan.)
Perennial; culms usually in small tufts, erect or spreading, sometimes prostrate, glabrous, 30-100 cm. tall; sheaths glabrous, pubescent on the margin, long-pilose at the throat, more or less pilose in a line across the collar; ligule about 0.5 mm. long, densely ciliate; blades flat, more or less involute in drying and usually involute at the attenuate tip, scabrous on the margin, rather short or elongate, 2-5 mm. wide; panicles terminal and axillary, usually included at the base, sometimes entirely included, the well developed terminal ones open, as much as 25 cm. long, the axis glabrous, the branches rather distant, spreading or sometimes reflexed, naked at base, as much as 8 cm. long or even more, the spikelets crowded along the upper part on short appressed branchlets; spikelets pale or plumbeous, 2-2.5 mm. long, glabrous; first glume one third to half as long, the second about as long as the acute lemma and palea.
Type locality: Canadian River [Texas or Oklahoma] (James).
Distribution: Sandy open ground, Maine and Ontario to Alberta and Washington, and southward to North Carolina, Indiana, Louisiana, Arizona, and northern Mexico.

Perennials, Terrestrial, not aquatic, Stems nodes swollen or brittle, Stems erect or ascending, Stems caespitose, tufted, or clustered, Stems terete, round in cross section, or polygonal, Stem internodes hollow, Stems with inflorescence less than 1 m tall, Stems, culms, or scapes exceeding basal leaves, Leaves mostly cauline, Leaves conspicuously 2-ranked, distichous, Leaves sheathing at base, Leaf sheath mostly open, or loose, Leaf sheath smooth, glabrous , Leaf sheath hairy, hispid or prickly, Leaf sheath hairy at summit, throat, or collar, Leaf sheath and blade differentiated, Leaf blades linear, Leaf blades 2-10 mm wide, Leaf blade margins folded, involute, or conduplicate, Leaf blades mostly glabrous, Leaf blades more or less hairy, Leaf blades scabrous, roughened, or wrinkled, Ligule present, Ligule a fringe of hairs, Inflorescence terminal, Inflorescence an open panicle, openly paniculate, branches spreading, Inflorescence solitary, with 1 spike, fascicle, glomerule, head, or cluster per stem or culm, Inflorescence branches more than 10 to numerous, Flowers bisexual, Spikelets pedicellate, Spikelets laterally compressed, Inflorescence or spikelets partially hidden in leaf sheaths, subtended by spatheole, Spikelet less than 3 mm wide, Spikelets with 1 fertile floret, Spikelets solitary at rachis nodes, Spikelets all alike and fertille, Spikelets bisexual, Spikelets disarticulating above the glumes, glumes persistent, Rac hilla or pedicel glabrous, Glumes present, empty bracts, Glumes 2 clearly present, Glumes distinctly unequal, Glumes shorter than adjacent lemma, Glumes 1 nerved, Lemmas thin, chartaceous, hyaline, cartilaginous, or membranous, Lemma similar in texture to glumes, Lemma 1 nerved, Lemma glabrous, Lemma apex acute or acuminate, Lemma awnless, Lemma straight, Palea present, well developed, Palea membranous, hyaline, Palea about equal to lemma, Palea 2 nerved or 2 keeled, Stamens 3, Styles 2-fid, deeply 2-branched, Stigmas 2, Fruit - caryopsis, Caryopsis ellipsoid, longitudinally grooved, hilum long-linear.

Sporobolus cryptandrus is a species of grass known as sand dropseed. It is native to North America, where it is widespread in southern Canada, most of the United States, and northern Mexico.