Winter BARLEY
Cool Season - Grass
Inexpensive and easy to grow, Barley provides exceptional erosion control and weed suppression in semi-arid regions and in light soils. It also can fill short rotation niches or serve as a topsoil protecting crop during droughty conditions in any regions. It's a fine choice for reclaiming overworked, weedy or eroded fields, or as part of a cover crop mix for improving soil tilth. Barley prefers cool, dry growing areas. As a spring cover crop, it can be grown farther north than any other cereal grain, largely because of its short growing period. It also can produce more biomass in a shorter time than any other ceral crop.
SOIL ADAPTABILITY:
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil
Fertility: Good tolerance of low soil fertility
pH Level: 6.0-7.0
Minimum Soil Germination Temp: 38°F
Sunlight: Has no shade tolerance
SEEDING / GROWTH:
Dates: 3-10 weeks before average first frost
Rates:
Precision: (not recommended)
Drilled: 50 lb/A, 3/4" to 1 1/2" deep
Broadcast: 80 lb/A
Aerial: 96 lb/A
Average seeds/lb: 13,600
Inoculate: NR*
Emergence: 6-8 days
Height: 1.5' - 3'
Drought & Heat: Good drought tolerance
Low heat tolerance
Flooding: Tolerates brief flooding or ponding
PROS:
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Exceptional erosion control
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Water infiltration improvement
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Scavenges & recycles nutrients
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Lush, deep fibrous roots
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Low fertility soil tolerance
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Excellent weed suppression
CONS:
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Less traffic tolerant than rye
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Past vegetative state, N release may be delayed
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Cutworms and other small grain pests can be occasional problems
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Avoid seeding in cold, damp soils