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Additional Information on
Downy Brome from the University of Nebraska Extension Service
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| Downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.)
was introduced into North America from the Mediterranean area of Europe.
In 1861 it was identified in New York and Pennsylvania, and by 1914 it
had spread throughout North America. It has maintained its current
distribution since about 1928. It invades overgrazed pastures and rangelands and is spread when the long awns on seeds attach to cattle. Seeds also are spread by hay, combines, grain trucks, and in contaminated winter wheat seed. Downy brome is known by a variety of names including cheatgrass, cheatgrass brome, downy bromegrass, military grass, wild oats, downy chess, and cheat. Two other annual bromes often are confused with downy brome: Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus Thunb. ex. Murr), and hairy chess (Bromus commutatus Schrad). Downy brome thrives in all soils. This weed has an extensive shallow root system and roots with many hairs which enable the plant to extract much of the soil water. A downy brome density of 50 plants per square foot can remove soil water to the permanent wilting point to a depth of about 2.5 feet. Under stress the plants can produce seed when they are only 1 to 2 inches tall. Plants under stress from tillage or harsh environments divert more of their photosynthetic capabilities to seed production than undisturbed plants or plants growing in more productive environments. |