Little Barley

Scientific Name: Hordeum pusillum Nutt.


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Hordeum L./ Hordeum pusillum Nutt.

Little Barley
General Information
Usda SymbolHOPU
GroupMonocot
Life CycleAnnual
Growth HabitsGraminoid
Native LocationsHOPU

Plant Guide

Description

General: Little barley is a tufted annual grass with culms generally 10-60 cm tall (Gould, 1975). Blades 3.5-12 cm long and 2-3.5 mm wide lanceolate, flat, glabrous or pubescence (Everitt et al., 2011). Spikelets 3 per node, 1 sessile and fertile, 2 lateral spikelets pedicellate and sterile (Hatch and Pluhar, 1993). Disarticulating seed segments adhere tight to clothing. There are approximately 193,000 seeds per pound. Chromosome number 2n=14 (Gould, 1975). Distribution: Little barley is widespread across much of the United States and southern Canada (Barkworth et al., 2007). For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS website. Habitat: Little barley is common in open grasslands, pastures, roadsides, and waste areas. It is generally associated with disturbance and is often found in alkaline soils (Barkworth et al., 2017).

Adaptation

Little barley is adapted to a wide variety of soils, is often considered a weedy species, and one of the first species to green up in the spring. It is common in overgrazed pastures, along roadsides, and other disturbed sites (Shaw, 2012).

Uses

Because little barley is an early colonizing species on disturbed areas, it is an excellent candidate for including in right-of- way seedings for temporary soil erosion control. Little barley also has the potential as a native cool season cover crop replacing other cereal grains currently used for temporary cover. It is considered poor forage for livestock, but the florets are eaten by wild turkeys (Everitt et al., 2011).

Status

Weedy or Invasive: This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Since little barley is an annual species, additional care should be taken when making management decisions to limit the species ability to become problematic. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, state natural resource, or state agriculture department regarding its status and use. Please consult the PLANTS website (http://plants.usda.gov/) and your state’s Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g., threatened, or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Planting Guidelines

Begin seedbed preparation in advance of planting by either tillage or herbicides. The site should be firm and have accumulated soil moisture prior to planting. Plant seed with a drill or broadcast seeder. If broadcast seeded, some type of additional coverage such as culti-packing or light dragging is recommended to cover the seed and ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Plant seed ⅛ to ¼-inch deep. It is better to plant too shallow than too deep. For calibration purposes, little barley contains approximately 193,000 seeds per bulk pound. Recommended seeding rate is 5 pounds pure live seed (PLS) per acre for solid stands. Adjust the seeding rate when used in a mix with other species. Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Guide

http://plants.usda.gov/

Management

Defer grazing for 90 days to allow plants to establish. Allow established plants to produce seed annually because little barley readily reseeds itself with minimal soil disturbance.

Pests and Potential Problems

There are no potential problems or pests associated with little barley.

Environmental Concerns

Concerns

Concerns

There are no environmental concerns associated with little barley.

Control

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely, Always read label and safety instructions for each control method, Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Little Barley., USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective,

Seeds and Plant Production

Plant Production

Plant Production

Seed production fields are best started from greenhouse grown transplants, planted on bedded rows. Seedlings grow and mature quickly and will produce a marketable crop in the year of planting. Seed harvest is possible using a variety of methods and implements. Seed ripens indeterminately, and a Flail Vac harvester collects the ripe seed crop without damaging or eliminating the ability to make subsequent harvests of the stand as later flowering florets mature. Little barley seed typically matures early in the spring with harvests occurring as early as April. Potential seed yields per acre is estimated at 250 PLS lbs per acre when planted on 36-inch bedded rows with a plant population of 14,000 plants per acre. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Choose cultivars and other selected materials based on the local climate, resistance to local pests, and intended use. Consult with your local land grant university, local extension or local USDA NRCS office for recommendations on adapted sources for use in your area. Cibolo Germplasm little barley was collaboratively released in 2021 by Texas Native Seeds, USDA-NRCS James E. “Bud” Smith Plant Material Center in Knox City, TX, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX, and Texas Agrilife Research Center, Stephenville, TX. It consists of three collections from the Rio Grande Plains (MLRA 083A-D) and Edwards Plateau (MLRA 081A-D) ecoregions. Cibolo Germplasm is recommended for use as a cool season cover crop, critical site revegetation, inclusion in range seeding mixes, and rights-of-way plantings in west, south, and central Texas.

Literature Cited

Barkworth, M.E., L.K. Anderton, K.M. Capels, S. Long, and M.B. Piep. 2007. Manual of Grasses for North America. Utah State University Press. Logan, Utah. Everitt, H.J., D.L. Drawe, C.R. Little, and R.I. Lonard. 2011. Grasses of South Texas. Texas Tech University Press. Lubbock, Texas. Gould, F.W. 1975. The Grasses of Texas. Texas A&M University Press. College Station, Texas. Hatch, L.H. and J. Pluhar. 1993. Texas Range Plants. Texas A&M University Press. College Station, Texas. Shaw, R.B. 2012. Guide to Texas Grasses. Texas A&M university Press. College Station, TX. Citation Falk, A. and C.B. Carr. 2021. Plant Guide for little barley (Hordeum pusillum). USDA-Natural Resources

Conservation

Service, James E. “Bud” Smith Plant Materials Center, Knox City, Texas. Published February 2021. For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ and visit the PLANTS website at http://plants.usda.gov/ or the Plant Materials Program website: http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov. PLANTS is not responsible for the content or availability of other websites.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
http://plants.usda.gov/
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/ In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)32
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceMedium
CaCO3 ToleranceMedium
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Drought ToleranceLow
Fertility RequirementLow
Fire ToleranceNone
Frost Free Days, Minimum80
Hedge ToleranceNone
Moisture UseMedium
pH, Maximum8.0
pH, Minimum6.2
Precipitation, Maximum60
Precipitation, Minimum10
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)8
Salinity ToleranceMedium
Shade ToleranceIntolerant


Morphology/Physiology

BloatNone
ToxicityNone
Resprout AbilityNo
Shape and OrientationErect
Active Growth PeriodSpring
C:N RatioLow
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Growth FormBunch
Growth RateRapid
Height, Mature (feet)1.2
Known AllelopathNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Nitrogen FixationNone
Foliage TextureMedium


Reproduction

Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Seed per Pound30000
Seed Spread RateModerate
Seedling VigorHigh
Small GrainNo
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSpring
Fruit/Seed AbundanceMedium
Commercial AvailabilityNo Known Source
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Propagated by CuttingsNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

Little Barley

Little Barley

Little Barley

Little Barley

Little Barley