Preferred Seed

   Manchar Smooth Bromegrass is a rapid developing, long-lived, deep rooted, sod forming grass with good seedling vigor. Manchar is an intermediate northern-southern type bromegrass that demonstrates the desirable characteristics of both types. Growth begins earlier, is strongly rhizomatous, has excellent seedling vigor, is rapidly sod forming and has good drought tolerance like southern types. The ideal northern traits exhibited are excellent recovery after cutting and grazing, and leaves higher up on the stem. Manchar also maintains a very good balance with alfalfa and other legumes.

   In terms of persistence Manchar can withstand periods of flooding, drought, salinity, a wide pH range and is extremely winter hardy. Manchar is adapted to a wide range of soil and moisture conditions, but is suited to more productive soils. All major soil types in the Northeast are suitable for bromegrass. The best of these are deep silt loams, but Manchar can perform well on light sandy soils and clay soils. Soils low in nitrogen may need an application of fertilizer since bromegrass requires a ready supply.

   Manchar is a very high-yielding variety well suited to hay production. The leaves grow tall and erect and the stems are fine, making a good crop for haying. Manchar Smooth Bromegrass is also commonly used for pasture. Vigorous rhizomes produce a dense sod and make this grass fairly resistant to elimination by overgrazing. Light grazing in the spring and early summer will allow continuous grazing through the slow summer growth period.

   Manchar Bromegrass is also a valuable plant for erosion control.