Development of Two Alpine Bluegrass Reclamation Varieties

To address the need for seed of native grasses adapted for reclaiming disturbed sites
in the mountains and foothills, the Alberta Environmental Centre initiated a research project aimed at developing and releasing varieties of native grasses. Four native grass species were included in this project: alpine bluegrass {Poa alpina), slender wheatgrass {Elymus trachycaulus, including awnless slender wheatgrass [ssp. trachycaulus], awned slender wheatgrass [ssp. subsecundus], and broadglumed wheatgrass [ssp. violaceus]). Rocky Mountain fescue {Festuca saximontana), and spike trisetum (Trisetum spicatum). Plants of these species were collected from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in 1984 and 1985. Alpine bluegrass was one of the most promising species of these four. It establishes and grows well on a wide range of soils and is an active colonizer on most disturbances in subalpine and alpine environments.  Alpine bluegrass is non-competitive and allows other native plant species to invade a reclaimed site. This helps to create a more natural plant community on reclaimed land.
Fifteen lines of alpine bluegrass were selected for evaluation in provenance trials at
Vegreville, Columbia Icefields, Sunshine Village, and Mountain Park. Data from these trials
were used to select eight alpine bluegrass lines for final evaluation in multilocation trials at
Vegreville, Beaverlodge, Plamondon, Columbia Icefields, and Mountain Park. Based on the information collected in these trials, two reclamation varieties of alpine bluegrass were released by the Alberta Environmental Centre. AFC Blueridge alpine bluegrass was released in 1994.  It is a high-elevation variety adapted to elevations as high as 2500 m. AFC Glacier alpine bluegrass, which was released in 1994, is adapted to elevations as high as 2400 m and is better adapted to drier conditions than AFC Blueridge. Although these varieties were released as pure lines, we recommend that they be incorporated into seed mixtures containing other native plant species and varieties to maximize genetic and species diversity and improve the likelihood of obtaining a good plant cover in any one location. In addition to developing and releasing these reclamation varieties, research has also been conducted to develop recommendations for growing these varieties for seed production and for use in reclamation and revegetation.