Description

Tall Wheat Grass is a deep-rooted, hardy perennial grass ideal for managing saline soils. It thrives in areas where traditional pasture species struggle—reclaiming salty ground, reducing erosion. Its high tolerance to salinity, sodicity, and poor drainage makes it an useful tool for regenerating unproductive pastoral areas. It’s important to note even though it grows well in salt country, Tall Wheat Grass is not tolerant to significant waterlogging.

Tall Wheat Grass can reduce topsoil salinity by reducing the rise of salts to the surface. It’s important to keep Tall Wheat Grass pastures short and vegetative to maximise feed value.

For better grazing outcomes, it is often sown as part of a mixed pasture with other salt-tolerant species such as phalaris, balansa and strawberry clover.

• Highly tolerant to salinity – ideal for reclaiming salty ground or areas affected by rising water tables.

• Excellent waterlogging tolerance – persistent in wet soils and periodic flooding.

• Perennial & deep-rooted – stabilises soil, improves structure and long-term productivity.

• Grazing option for challenging paddocks – palatable when managed well, especially in mixed systems.

• Green feed in summer – useful in dry seasons with good regrowth after cutting or grazing.

Why Choose Tall Wheat Grass?

Turn non-productive land into functional pasture. Whether you’re reclaiming a saline corner or getting some grazing out of wet ground, Tall Wheat Grass is a cost-effective, low-input pasture base for challenging environments. Tall wheat grass has been grown on saltland in Australia since at least 1945, with it introduction around the management of saline soils because of the deep root system and perennial growth cycle.

Ground preparation

Despite being a strong competitor when established, plants develop slowly as it is a weak seedling and are inhibited by competition, generally requiring bare ground to establish. Sow with 100kg/ha DAP to aid early establishment.

Grazing management

It’s important to keep Tall Wheat Grass pastures short and vegetative to maximise feed value. Tall wheat grass must be grazed to maintain pasture at maximum of 10cm height to prevent rank and unpalatable growth.

If the soil salinity level is below 15 dS/m then tall wheat grass will only take about 6 months before it can be grazed. If the soil salinity levels are above 15 dS/m then it may be 12 months before it can be grazed.

Mixes

Talk to us about mixing it with legumes or other saline-tolerant species to create a custom mix.

Survivability

Tall wheat grass can survive salinity levels up to 40 dS/m but will not persist in soils that are waterlogged over spring and into summer.