Dropseed, Rough/Tall

The name “Dropseed” alludes to the grain falling readily. Tall Dropseed has only fair forage value and palatablity decreases with maturity. It tends to increase in overgrazed bluestem pastures but it decreases in overgrazed shortgrass prairie. Tall Dropseed is fairly drought tolerant. The stems and leaves bleach whitish during the winter.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE : Compared to other grasses, Rough Dropseed is fair in forage value for livestock annd poor for wildlife.

IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : Rough Dropseed makes up a minor part of the vegetation in most areas where it grows and is not a particularly valuable forage species. It increases in response to grazing.

PALATABILITY : Rough Dropseed is most palatable when young and green. Its palatability at maturity is low.

GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : Rough Dropseed is a solitary or tufted, rhizomatous, perennial, warm-season grass up to 4 feet (13 dm) in height. It is more drought tolerant than many grasses of the Bluestem prairie, but is not nearly as drought hardy as Sand Dropseed.