VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Hordeum jubatum | Foxtail Barley 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Many waterfowl species eat the seeds and occasionally the leaves of
foxtail barley [20].  Before flowering, foxtail barley is palatable to
livestock and big game.  Up to the time when seedheads develop, it is
fair to good forage for cattle and horses and fair for sheep [35].

Foxtail barley seedheads, when dry, are very harmful to all kinds of
grazing animals, particularly deer, elk, and pronghorn [35].  The
sharp-pointed joints of the spike, each with several long and slender
awns, stick in the nose and mouth of grazing animals, often penetrating
the flesh [24,35].  Infection caused by awns stuck in tissue can cause
necrotic sores and necrotic stomatitis, which in turn finally attacks
the bones and causes an abnormal enlargement as well as lumpy jaw and
pus-forming abscesses.  These infections may result in death of the
animal [35].


PALATABILITY : 
The palatability of foxtail barley to livestock and wildlife species in
several western states is rated as follows [8]:

                         CO      MT      ND      UT      WY
Cattle                  Fair    Poor    Fair    Fair    Poor
Sheep                   Fair    Fair    Fair    Poor    Fair
Horses                  Fair    ----    ----    Fair    Fair
Pronghorn               ----    Poor    Poor    Fair    Poor
Elk                     ----    Poor    ----    Good    Poor
Mule deer               ----    Poor    Poor    Fair    Poor
White-tailed deer       ----    Poor    Poor    ----    Poor
Small mammals           ----    ----    ----    Fair    Fair
Small nongame birds     ----    Fair    ----    Fair    ----
Upland game birds       ----    Poor    ----    Fair    Fair
Waterfowl               Good    Fair    ----    Fair    Fair


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
The degree to which foxtail barley provides environmental protection
during one or more seasons for wildlife species is rated as follows [8]:

                         CO      MT      ND      UT      WY
Pronghorn               ----    ----    Poor    Poor    Poor
Elk                     ----    Poor    ----    Poor    Poor
Mule deer               ----    Poor    Poor    Poor    Poor
White-tailed deer       Poor    Fair    ----    Poor    ----
Small mammals           ----    Poor    ----    Fair    Good
Small nongame birds     ----    Poor    ----    Fair    Good
Upland game birds       Poor    Poor    ----    Fair    Fair
Waterfowl               ----    Good    Good    Fair    Fair


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Foxtail barley has potential for revegetation of saline mine spoils
where forage value is of secondary importance.  Its extensive root
system and aggressive habit make it a good species for erosion control.
Foxtail barley seeds are not commercially available [45].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Foxtail barley, cut before the awns have expanded, is sometimes used as
an ornamental in dry bouquets [24].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Because of the damage foxtail barley can cause to livestock and other
animals, it is often considered a pasture weed [21,24,35].  Hay
containing foxtail barley is nearly valueless [24].  Additionally,
seedheads of this species can downgrade the value of wool or pelts,
causing further economic loss to ranchers [24].  Once established,
foxtail barley is hard to eradicate.  It increases under excessive
grazing pressure.  Dense stands are usually associated with some type of
disturbance, such as overgrazing, close mowing, or repeated burning
[14,29,45].

Seeding disturbed meadows and pastures with desirable, fast-growing
forage grasses is effective in reducing the amount of foxtail barley
that invades the site.  Additionally, conservative grazing can
facilitate the establishment of native, palatable grasses and reduce
foxtail barley [15,35].

Control with herbicides:  Forty-eight pounds of dalapon
(2,2-dichloropropionic acid) per acre (7.2 kg/ha) in water at 50 gallons
per acre (76 liters/ha) has been shown to give complete kill of foxtail
barley.  Lower rates of 16 and 32 pounds of dalapon per acre (2.4
kg/ha-4.8 kg/ha) allows some survival.  A combination of 30 pounds (4.5
kg/ha) of dalapon and 4 pounds (0.6 kg/ha) of amino triazole per acre
will also effectivly control foxtail barley [36].  The herbicide
mefluidide is most effective in controlling foxtail barley when applied
near initiation of flowering [39].  In a meadow brome (Bromus spp.)
stand, the herbicide kerb at the rate of 0.5 pounds per acre ( 0.7
kg/ha) gave excellent control of foxtail barley without apparent
reduction of the meadow brome [18].

Related categories for Species: Hordeum jubatum | Foxtail Barley