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Forage Kochia
Introduced Perennial Sub-Shrub, Seed Code: KOPR
- Seeds per lb: 407,000
- Average Height: 1-3 Feet
- Planting Rate: 4 PLS lbs per Acre
- Precipitation requirement: 6 Inches Minimum
- Root System: Taproot
Also known as Immigrant Kochia or Prostrate Summer Cypress. AKA Bassia prostrata. Forage Kochia is sometimes confused with it's invasive and weedy cousin Kochia scoparia. Kochia is a long lived, semi-evergreen half-shrub introduced from Russia. It that averages 1 to 3 feet tall at maturity, and germinates quickly in late February. It may live 10 to 15 years, developing an extensive root system, with a taproot up to 16 feet long. Stems grow from a low woody base. The upper stems turn reddish brown and dry up after seed shatter. The lower stems stay green and succulent year round and are favored as a high protein forage for livestock in mid-late winter months. It is well adapted to a wider range of soils, including fine to coarse textured, shallow to deep, gravelly to stony, and saline to alkaline. It seems to grow best on heavy textured soils. Forage kochia often occurs in areas with high alkalinity. It is not well adapted to neutral or acidic soils.It sprouts and regrows after burning. Forage kochia does not tolerate flooding or soil with a water table. Forage kochia has been seeded to improve plant community diversity, aesthetics, plant cover species richness, forage for livestock and wildlife, fire prevention, and soil stability. It suppresses or eliminates the invasion of alien annual weeds like cheatgrass, halogeton, Russian thistle, and medusahead rye. It is not highly invasive and does not spread aggressively into healthy plant communities. It does not compete well with perennial grasses. Since Forage Kochia remains green and succulent into the winter months, it is used extensively in "green stripping" for fire breaks. The same characteristic makes it highly favorable for livestock grazing during winter months. Source Identified lots available.
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