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Ventenata

Description

Describes Ventenata dubia, an invasive grass that has the potential to impact grasslands and forage production in Alberta. The fact sheet provides details about how to identify this species,... More ≫

Description

Describes Ventenata dubia, an invasive grass that has the potential to impact grasslands and forage production in Alberta. The fact sheet provides details about how to identify this species, about its life cycle, its distribution elsewhere, and management options.

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Recommendations for reducing leaf and yard waste in Alberta

Description

This is a plan for Albertans to switch from disposing leaf and yard waste in landfill to recycling it. Organics, including leaf and yard waste, make up an estimated 40 per cent of the residential... More ≫

Description

This is a plan for Albertans to switch from disposing leaf and yard waste in landfill to recycling it. Organics, including leaf and yard waste, make up an estimated 40 per cent of the residential and 25 per cent of the industrial, commercial, and institutional waste streams. When leaf and yard waste is disposed in landfill, it generates greenhouse gases and nutrients are locked up in the landfill. Recycling these resources by composting and returning the resulting compost back to land can increase soil productivity.

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Control options for downy brome on prairie reclamation sites

Description

Downy brome, Bromus tectorum L., is an annual grass that came from Europe in about 1861. It’s now the dominant plant on over 100 million acres in the western United States, making it the most... More ≫

Description

Downy brome, Bromus tectorum L., is an annual grass that came from Europe in about 1861. It’s now the dominant plant on over 100 million acres in the western United States, making it the most common plant on the continent. A major problem in the United States, downy brome is also becoming a problem in the southern parts of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Some of the common names that this grass is known by include: downy brome, cheatgrass, military grass and downy chess. Downy brome thrives on medium to coarse textured soil types (sandy or gravelly soils) and in low to medium precipitation zones. It’s currently listed as a nuisance weed in the Alberta Weed Control Act, but has been elevated to noxious weed status by several municipalities in Alberta.

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Grass seed residues for beef cattle feed

Description

Grass seed straws are effective feed alternatives for reducing ration costs for cows in the second to early third trimester. Depending on feed quality, straws are best suited for mature cows that... More ≫

Description

Grass seed straws are effective feed alternatives for reducing ration costs for cows in the second to early third trimester. Depending on feed quality, straws are best suited for mature cows that have good body condition scores. Using straw rations for growing and/or thin animals will result in animals that are nutritionally deprived, which may affect calving and re-breeding success. When using grass seed straw as feed, consider the following: Take the time to ensure rations are balanced. Pay careful attention to the levels of digestible intake protein and minerals. Remember that once the cows have calved, the proportion of the grass seed residues in the ration will have to be reduced to meet the cow's increased energy and protein requirements. Work with a nutritionist or local feed company to get a better idea of the proportion that can be included.

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Lawn care tips

Description

A healthy lawn contributes to your property value and the overall appearance of your neighborhood. It provides a natural, safe surface where your family can play and relax. By following a few... More ≫

Description

A healthy lawn contributes to your property value and the overall appearance of your neighborhood. It provides a natural, safe surface where your family can play and relax. By following a few simple tips, you can keep your lawn healthy and environmentally beneficial.

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The rough fescue dominated community types in the foothills of north-central Alberta

Description

The fescue grasslands of Alberta are an important grazing resource for both wildlife and domestic livestock. These grasslands are also found in some of the most ecological diverse areas of the... More ≫

Description

The fescue grasslands of Alberta are an important grazing resource for both wildlife and domestic livestock. These grasslands are also found in some of the most ecological diverse areas of the province. Looman (1982) described three zones of rough fescue in Alberta, characterized by a different species. In the Northern rough fescue zone, north of 51 N latitude in the foothills of North-central Alberta three undisturbed rough fescue dominated types have been described. These include the Rough fescue-Hairy wildrye dominated community which is found on dry, well-drained sites. On moister sites with deep snow accumulation bog birch will invade to form the Bog birch/Rough fescue/Bearberry dominated community type. In contrast, on moist, rich sites tufted hairgrass co-dominates with rough fescue to form the Rough fescue-Tufted hairgrass dominated community type. This paper will describe and examine the successional relationships of these community types in the presence and absence of...

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Creeping red fescue seed production in the Peace River region

Description

Creeping red fescue seed production began in Canada in the 1930s. It developed into a dual purpose crop that provided revenue from the seed production in the summer and the grazing in the fall.... More ≫

Description

Creeping red fescue seed production began in Canada in the 1930s. It developed into a dual purpose crop that provided revenue from the seed production in the summer and the grazing in the fall. The seed was used for lawns, fairways, pastures and soil conservation purposes. Markets for creeping red fescue seed expanded as the need arose for a turf-forming grass to seed on airfields and around military bases.

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Preliminary classification of plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii) community types within the central parkland subregion of Alberta

Description

This preliminary classification will focus on native grassland community types containing plains rough fescue and less than 25% shrub cover. Disturbances such as over-grazing, mowing, breaking of... More ≫

Description

This preliminary classification will focus on native grassland community types containing plains rough fescue and less than 25% shrub cover. Disturbances such as over-grazing, mowing, breaking of the soil, etc. can alter the species composition of grasslands, introducing a variety of non-native grasses and forbs and shifting the dominance of native species. Due to the wide array of community types that could result, such disturbed (modified) grasslands have not been included in this classification. Following phase III, which includes the field verification of remnant plains rough fescue grasslands, such modified fescue associations may be described.

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Harvesting grass seed

Description

The timing of seed harvest is one of the most important decisions a grass seed grower will make. Grasses need 20-30 days after flowering for seeds to properly mature. This will vary because the... More ≫

Description

The timing of seed harvest is one of the most important decisions a grass seed grower will make. Grasses need 20-30 days after flowering for seeds to properly mature. This will vary because the period of flowering and seed development lasts from several days to two weeks. As a result, seed heads emerge at different times, which causes uneven ripening. Hot, dry weather shortens the ripening time. Cool, moist conditions delay seed maturity. Grasses grown under irrigation tend to have a higher ash content, which can result in more shattering than experienced with dryland produced grasses. The ideal time to swath is when seed is at the medium to hard dough stage and still firmly attached. Moisture testing of the entire seed head (35-50%) is also a useful indicator of when to swath. Most grasses will hold their seed for 10-15 days, but the time from medium dough to seed shatter can be as short as three or four days.

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