VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Rumex acetosella | Sheep Sorrel 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
In Arizona sheep sorrel is grazed by cattle and sheep, but has little
forage value [39].  Sheep sorrel contains oxalic acid which can be
poisonous [46,100].

In California and Ohio sheep sorrel is grazed by mule deer [50,70].  In
Idaho, Montana, and Wisconsin sharp-tailed grouse and ruffed grouse eat
sheep sorrel seed [40,41,76,86].  


PALATABILITY : 
In Utah palatability ratings for sheep sorrel are fair for cattle and
poor for sheep and horses [100].  


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Sheep sorrel nutritional levels are adequate to meet the requirements of
mule deer [50].  Energy and protein content ratings of sheep sorrel are
poor.  Nutritional values are rated as poor for waterfowl and fair for
elk, mule deer, upland game birds, small nongame birds, and small
mammals [100].


COVER VALUE : 
In Utah sheep sorrel cover values are rated as fair for small mammals
and small nongame birds and poor for upland game birds and waterfowl
[100].  


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Sheep sorrel colonizes disturbed sites such as clearcuts, streambanks,
and surface mined lands.  It has been used for revegetation of disturbed
lands, although it is rated low for erosion control, and short- and
long-term revegetation potential [100].  In a mining and smelting region
of Sudbury, Ontario, sheep sorrel established when a thin sprinkling
of limestone was applied to the soil [97].

In east-central Texas revegetation of eight unreclaimed mine sites
occurred naturally.  These sites and an adjacent unmined site were
sampled to determine vegetational changes over time.  The percent
frequency of sheep sorrel was as follows [79]:

    3m*    6m    5y    10y    15y    20y    30y    50y    control
   
     0     11     4      6      4      3      0      0       0

*m=months since first sampling, y=years since first sampling

In Pennsylvania an attempt was made to transplant rootstocks of sheep
sorrel on black waste sites created by anthracite mining.  All emergent
vegetation was subsequently heat killed [77].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Sheep sorrel leaves are used in salads [4,51].  The Nuxalk Indians of
British Columbia eat sheep sorrel [55].  


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Sheep sorrel is classified as a noxious weed in 23 states [67].  It is a
serious weed in pastures and rangelands.  Control is difficult because
of its perennial, creeping rhizomes [4,52].  Sheep sorrel is a common
weed in West Virginia, except in limestone regions; liming the soil may
help eradicate sheep sorrel [82].  

Sheep sorrel presence and abundance are indicative of poor and "sour"
soils [82,87].  It reaches peak abundance at low soil nitrogen levels
[87].  Sheep sorrel is potentially poisonous to livestock because of the
presence of soluble oxalates [19]; however, it is grazed by sheep and
cattle [39].  In Idaho sheep sorrel is an increaser species under heavy
grazing regimes, and a decreaser species under light grazing regimes
[54].  In Oregon percent frequency of sheep sorrel was not affected by
late season cattle grazing in a riparian mountain meadow [45].

In Novia Scotia sheep sorrel is one of the most common weed species in
lowbush blueberry fields.  Control with hexazinone was attempted but
after the activity of the herbicide decreased, sheep sorrel grew and
produced a large number of seeds [62].  In Pennsylvania in a goldenrod
(Solidago spp.)-aster (Aster spp.) community, sheep sorrel was dominant
in 1- and 3-year-old plowed, disked, prometone-treated plots [64].  

Control Methods:  Repeat cultivation during dry weather gradually
weakens rootstalks of sheep sorrel [19].  According to Fitzsimmons [19]
several herbicides can selectively control sheep sorrel.
 

Related categories for Species: Rumex acetosella | Sheep Sorrel