Barnyard Grass

Grass (Poaceae family):

Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.

EPPO code:

ECHCG

Other names:

Summer grass, water grass

Species information

Lifecycle:

Annual.

Propagation:

Reproduces by seed.

Emergence:

An early to mid-season emerging species.

Habitat:

Barnyard grass is a very common annual grass found in a variety of soil types in cultivated fields, roadsides, waste places and sometimes lawns throughout Ontario.

Competitiveness:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research has shown that barnyard grass densities of 20,000 plants/ac can result in a 7–12% yield loss in corn and soybeans.

Identification clues

Auricles:

None.

Ligule:

None.

Leaf blade:

Both the upper and lower surface of the leaf blade is hairless.

Leaf sheath:

The sheath and its margins are both hairless.

Stem:

Flat.

Seed heads:

Barnyard grass seed heads have a central axis with lateral branches that contain dense clusters of spikelets. The seedhead turns purplish-green to almost black at maturity.

Roots:

Fibrous.

Often mistaken for

I know it's not Fall panicum because barnyard grass has no ligule.

I know it's not Yellow foxtail because barnyard grass has no ligule, nor clusters of short kinky hairs at the base of its leaf blade.