Common Name: Forage Kochia
Scientific Name: Bassia prostrata
Native / Introduced: Introduced
Main Uses:
~Rangeland
~Wildlife habitat improvement
~Revegitation of disturbed sitesHeight: 1 - 3 feet
Colors: Green stalks, upper stalk turns red late summer and fall
Flowering Season: July-September
Soil Types: All textures
Tolerances: (not acid)
Sun or Shade: Full Sunlight
Minimum Precipitation: 6-8 inches
Lifecycle: Perennial
Planting Seed Rate (mixed with other species): 0.1-0.25 lbs/acre
DRILL Planting Rate: 2-3 lbs/acre
BROADCAST Planting Rate: 3-4 lbs/acre
Estimated Seeds Per Pound: 395,000
Optimal Planting Season: Winter
Planting Depth: Plant on snow is best in January - February
Stratification Required: Store in freezer and plant in late fall or early winter to ensure natural stratification
Description
Forage Kochia is a semi-evergreen half-shrub that is adapted to semi-arid sites across much of the western United States. It can grow on all soil textures and is tolerant to alkali and salt, but not acid. It is also tolerant to shallow and low fertility soils and is both cold and heat tolerant.
Forage Kochia is very palatable and nutritious for both livestock and many species of wildlife year-round. It can establish and persist on very harsh sites, making it extremely valuable for range and wildlife habitat improvement. It is also used for revegetation of disturbed sites caused by mining, road and pipeline construction, etc. Immigrant Forage Kochia has been successfully established on a broad range of sites in the west, many of them very harsh and dry.
Forage Kochia resprouts from fire and provides good firebreaks. It competes well with cheatgrass and halogeton. The minimum precipitation required for Forage Kochia is 6-8 inches, and it is best planted in the fall or winter on top of rough surfaces or snow. It can be difficult to establish.
Resources
NRCS Plant Profile: https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=BAPR5
NRCS Plant Guide: https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_kopr80.pdf
