Selecting plants adapted to individual farm and ranch conditions is an important part of a water management strategy. Consider drought-tolerant varieties for water efficiency. Plants with deep root systems, such as buffalo grass, can stretch to the water table. Rangeland species—cool-season grasses ideal for cool-climate pastures or warm-season plants for hotter zones—can thrive in dry conditions.
White Sonora wheat (left) and Chapalote flint corn (right) are examples of drought-tolerant crops that can be used to diversify crop rotations in arid and semi-arid regions. Photos by Native Seeds/SEARCH