Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Jointed goatgrass, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Stem

  • 15-30 in. tall with 1 to many stems or tillers; tillers and branching from base of plant can give it a bunchgrass-like appearance
Photo of green jointed goatgrass stem
 

Leaves

  • Blue-green, 1-6 in. long, 0.125-0.25 in. wide, simple; alternate; auricles, ligules, leaf sheaths and leaf margins near leaf base have evenly spaced fine hairs which distinguish it from other grass weeds
Photo of many green jointed goatgrass plants

 

Flower

  • Seedhead cylindrical, 1-5 in. long; spikelets held close to the spike, resulting in a jointed look
Photo of the top of green jointed goatgrass plant
 

Root

  • Fibrous; spiklelet that led to germination commonly still attached to the base of the plant
Photo of a field of jointed goatgrass plants
 

 

Other

  • Grows best in grasslands, rangeland, pastures, roadsides, wheat and alfalfa fields; grows well in compacted soils; known to occur in Churchill, Elko and Washoe counties 
  • Winter annual; seeds viable in soil up to 5 years
  • Infestations in wheat can reduce value of crop; may cross-breed with wheat
Photo of green jonted goatgrass seeds still on the plant

Control

  • Hand-pull or hoe small infestations; repeated mowing prior to seed production is effective; tilling to 4 in. depth is effective, but subsequent tilling may return seeds to the surface; burning can kill mature plants and remove thatch, but it will not control the seedbank
  • Apply glyphosate post emergence in late winter or early spring before flowering to actively growing plants; apply imazapic, sulfometuron or sulfometuron+chlorsulfuron preemergence in the fall or post emergence in early spring to young plants after soil thaws

Learn more about the author(s)

Heidi Kratsch
Heidi Kratsch
 

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