What's the best pasture for saline, poorly drained country that also has alkaline soil?
We recommend Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass. It has high salt tolerance, grows and persists on highly alkaline soils, and copes with waterlogging. It is adapted to a wide range of soils, from sand to heavy, and provides palatable feed where very little else will grow. It suits areas with 450mm+ rainfall.
How salty can the ground be before a salt-tolerant perennial grass won't take?
Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass can be sown into saline areas of between 3 and 5 dS/m. For those conditions, we recommend 10 to 15 kg/ha as a monoculture, or 5 to 10 kg/ha mixed with other species. For the most severely salt-affected spots, pair it with Puccinellia, which tolerates even higher salinity.
What perennial goes well with puccinellia on a saltland paddock?
Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass is an ideal companion to Puccinellia. It is well adapted to poorly drained and saline soils, grows and persists on highly alkaline soils, and provides palatable feed where very little else will grow. When sowing it in a mix with other species, we recommend 5 to 10 kg/ha of Tyrrell.
Why does my new saltland grass look so slow over winter?
If you have sown Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass, slow winter establishment is normal. It is generally slower than most other grass species during the winter establishment period, but once established it persists well. Tyrrell is also more productive in areas with moist summers and autumns, so give it time before judging the stand.
Is there a perennial grass for soil conservation and reclaiming salt-affected land?
Yes, Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass is used to reclaim saline soils and for soil conservation. It is a densely tufted, later maturing perennial with high salt tolerance that suits poorly drained ground. It can also be used for pasture on low rainfall, non-saline soils. Sow at 10 to 15 kg/ha on its own.
What perennial grows best where summers and autumns stay moist on salty flats?
Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass is more productive in areas with moist summers and autumns. It is a later maturing perennial that tolerates salinity and waterlogging and suits sand to heavy soils with 450mm+ rainfall. It provides palatable feed where little else grows, and it is a good partner for Puccinellia.
Can I grow a perennial grass on non-saline, lower rainfall country too, or is it just for salt?
Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass isn't only for salt land. It can also be used for pasture on low rainfall, non-saline soils, although its standout attributes are salt and alkalinity tolerance. It suits a wide range of soil types, and we recommend 10 to 15 kg/ha when sown alone.
Where does Tall Wheat Grass come from?
Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass originated in Turkey in the 1930s and was introduced to Australia during the 1950s. It is a rather coarse, later maturing, densely tufted perennial with greyish-green leaves. Its main attributes are high salt tolerance and the ability to grow and persist on highly alkaline soils, and it is well adapted to poorly drained, saline country across WA.
Is Tall Wheat Grass good for grazing?
Yes, Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass provides palatable grazing where normally very little else will grow, such as saline, poorly drained and alkaline soils. It is slower than most grasses to establish over winter, so give it time, but it persists well once established. It is more productive where summers and autumns are moist.
Tall Wheat Grass vs Puccinellia, what's the difference?
Puccinellia is the most salt-tolerant commercially available grass and is highly palatable, but it needs a dry soil surface in summer and suits loam to heavy soils. Tyrrell Tall Wheatgrass copes with 3 to 5 dS/m salinity, highly alkaline soils and a wider soil range, and is more productive with moist summers. They make an ideal pairing.
