HPIPM:Barnyard grass

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Lilianae
Order	Poales
Family	Poaceae
Genus	Echinochloa

Scientific Name

Echinochloa crus-galli

Scientific Name Synonyms

Echinochloa crusgalli

Common Name

barnyardgrass

Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli)

Compiled by Melissa Gravesand Marjolein Schat, Montana State University from the following sources:

http://www.css.cornell.edu/weedeco/WeedDatabase/index2.html

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ECCR

http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/wildthing/barnyardgrass.htm

Esser, Lora L. 1994. Echinochloa crus-galli. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available:http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/echcru/all.html [2008, October].

Identification and Life Cycle

Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) is a summer annual in the grass family (Poaceae). Barnyard grass is also called barnyard millet, common barnyard grass, panic grass, and water grass. Stems may be solitary or in small tufts, erect or reclining at the base, and up to 6.6 feet tall. Leaves are flat, 4 to 12 inches long and 0.2 to 0.6 inch wide. The panicle is 2 to 8.4 inches long, upright or nodding. Barnyard grass has a fibrous root system.

Habitats

Barnyard grass is widespread in fields, waste places, ditches, marshes, wet meadows, floodplains and along lakeshores and stream banks.

Impacts

Barnyard grass is an alternate host for several diseases of barley, oat and corn, including maize dwarf disease. Barnyard grass can also reduce dry bean yields at densities as low as two plants per six feet of row.

Biology and Ecology

Barnyard grass reproduces by seed. It is self-pollinating and a prolific seed producer. Barnyard grass begins emerging in May, reaches peak emergence in early June and continues to emerge sporadically until September. The inflorescence will form about 40 days after emergence if days are short, but several months may be required for plants emerging in May. Seeds mature about 20 days after flowering. It completes its development in 42-64 days. Each plant can produce up to 40,000 seeds.

Biological Control

There is ongoing research in the use of rhizobacteria for the control of barnyard grass in Asia and Australia, and a moth Enosima leucotaeniella is being considered for use as a biological control agent in Japan. However, there are currently no biological control agents available in the United States.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Generally, seed yields from barnyard grass stands are reduced in 2 to 3 years because of competition from other weeds.

Chemical Control

There have been numerous reports of resistance to ureas and amindes, synthetic auxins in the Maryland, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, and Louisiana. In California there are reports of multiple resistance to ACCase inhibitors and thiocarbamates. For a complete list of all reports of resistance and information on individual cases please see http://www.weedscience.org/Summary/USpeciesCountry.asp?lstWeedID=79&FmSpecies=Go

Examples of herbicides that can be used to manage barnyard grass

Consult herbicide labels for additional rate, application, and safety information. Additional herbicide information can be found at http://www.greenbook.net.

Herbicide Active Ingredient trade name	Mode of Action	Product per Acre	Application Time or Growth Stage
Alfalfa
Sethoxydim	Group 1 (Inhibition of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase))
*Poast		1 - 1.5 pints/A	See label for region specific directions. Allow 14 days before cutting for dry hay or 7 days before grazing, feeding, or cutting for undried forage. For control of annual grasses apply before grass weeds are mowed and before alfalfa canopy covers grasses.
Dry Beans
Imazethapyr; quizalofop	Group 1 (Inhibition of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase))
*Assure II		8 - 10 ounces/A	Apply when barnyard grass is 2-6 inches tall. Do not apply within 30 days of harvest.
Peas and Lentils
Pendimethalin	Group 3 (Microtubule assembly inhibition)
*Prowl H20		1.5 - 3 pints/A	May be applied 60 days prior to planting up to immediately before planting. After application, rotary hoeing and shallow cultivation/tillage can be practiced without reducing weed control. Avoid tillage that will bring untreated soil to the surface.
Grass Grown for Seed
Quinaclorac	Group 4 (Growth regulator)
*Paramount		5.3 ounces/A	See label for specific grass crops Paramount is labeled for. Apply as either a broadcast or spot spray application to actively growing weeds.
Wheat
Fenoxaprop	Group 1 (Inhibition of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase))
*Puma 1EC		0.66 ounce/A	Apply to crop from emergence to up to 60 days prior to harvesting wheat in Montana, or 70 days prior to harvest in other states. Apply when barnyard grass is in the 1-leaf to 2 tiller stage of growth.
Barley
Fenoxaprop	Group 1 (Inhibition of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase))
*Puma 1EC		0.66 ounce/A	Apply to crop from emergence to the 5-leaf stage. Do not spray barley after jointing begins. Apply when barnyard grass is in the 1-leaf to 2 tiller stage of growth.

The information herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and that listing of commercial products, necessary to this guide, implies no endorsement by the authors or the Extension Services of Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming or Montana. Criticism of products or equipment not listed is neither implied nor intended. Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the Extension Services can assume no liability for the suggested use of chemicals contained herein. Pesticides must be applied legally complying with all label directions and precautions on the pesticide container and any supplemental labeling and rules of state and federal pesticide regulatory agencies. State rules and regulations and special pesticide use allowances may vary from state to state: contact your State Department of Agriculture for the rules, regulations and allowances applicable in your state and locality.

References

For more information and images please visit IPM Bugwood. http://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=barnyardgrass&Start=1&results=26