Last updated: 15th January 2003

CANARY GRASS

Family: Graminaceae

Genus: Phalaris

Species: canariensis

Source: http://ww1.clunet.edu Source: www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com

Contents

General Background
Details of Quality Characteristics
Current Production and Yields
Constraints upon Production
Markets and Market Potential
Other Information
Research
Useful Websites
BioMat Net
Contacts
References

General Background
Annual canary grass (Phalaris canariensis L.) or canary seed is a grain crop with production practices and a life cycle similar to that of spring wheat or oat. The plant is native to the Mediterranean regions, and is grown on large acreages in the Middle East, Europe and Argentina, with some production in the northern Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota, U.S.A. and the western provinces of Canada. It has panicles that are oval and spike-like up to 5cm long, with large, deeply keeled green and white-striped glumes, completely enclosing the three florets on each spikelet. The plant grows to 1.5m by 3m at a fast rate. It is in flower from July to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by wind. The plant is noted for attracting wildlife. It is grown under contract as a speciality crop in these regions, and is used primarily as birdfeed hence the name "Canary grass." The largest consumers are Japan and other countries of East Asia and Europe.

Canary grass has small elliptical grains with hulls, which are covered with very fine silicious spicules that are severe skin irritants and potentially carcinogenic. Chemical treatments and a glabrous genotype are now available for eliminating the spicules.


Details of Quality Characteristics
Canary seed groats generally contain around 61.0% starch. The groats average 18.7% protein, compared to 15.0% in wheat. The proportions of prolamin and glutelin in the protein average 77.7%, exceeding that in wheat protein of 73.5%. Canary seed proteins are more deficient in lysine and threonine than wheat proteins but very high in cystine, tryptophan and phenylalanine. For a cereal, canary seed also appears to be very high in crude fat, 8.7%, and purified total lipid, 11.0%; containing 55% linoleic, 29% oleic, 11% palmitic, and 2.5% linolenic acids. Groat and roller milled flours are low in dietary fibre, soluble sugars, and total ash. Canary seed oil is highly unsaturated.

Sucrose is the major soluble sugar in canary seed, constituting about 47% of the total soluble sugars. Fructose and glucose are also present in small concentrations in the meal.

The small silicious hairs on the hulls are potential carcinogens and have been linked to cancer of the oesophagus when present as a contaminant in wheat flour used in baking bread. The hairs are also severe skin irritants to operators during harvesting and transportation of the grain.


Current Production and Yields
Yields of about 10 tons DM (dry matter)/ha on medium soils have been recorded in Scandinavian countries in 2000. Elsewhere in Europe yields of 5 - 6 tons DM/ha have been recorded in 2000.

Occasionally grown as cereal-like crop for the production of bird seed.

Country Area Harvested
(‘000 ha)		 Yield (t/ha)
Hungary 22 9.545
Spain 0.07 8.571
Source: FAOSTAT Statistical Database http://apps.fao.org


Constraints upon Production
Canary Grass is very susceptible to Treflan and Eptam, fields treated need to be avoided the following year. There are currently no herbicides for safe use on annual canary grass therefore cultural control methods are important. Increasing plant density and delaying time of sowing are potential agronomic solutions to control annual grass weeds such as annual ryegrass.


Markets and Market Potential
The primary market for canary grass is currently birdfeed, but other uses, including human food have been proposed. As a bird food, the florets are sold and the birds de-hull the florets before consumption. It is widely recognised as a superior canary-feed.

Annual Canary grass seed is similar to oat in mineral composition. The caryopsis is higher in ash, oil, and phosphorus but lower in fibre than concentrations common in corn, pea, or field bean. Canary grass caryopses have higher concentrations of all eight essential amino acids than does wheat or corn, and are higher in sulphur-containing amino acids than pea or field bean. In spite of this encouraging nutritional profile, the value of canary grass in human food has not been adequately explored.

There is potential as biofuel for an environmentally sound replacement of oil. The leaves can be woven into hats and matting.


Other Information
Annual canary grass (a grain crop) is often confused with reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) which is a perennial forage crop and wild grass. Although heads of both crops are panicles, annual canary grass heads are spike-like and resemble club wheat. Most cultivars tiller profusely and lodge when soil fertility and moisture is plentiful. The compact, oval-shaped panicles retain seed firmly so that shattering losses are usually small. The plant grows 36 in. high, heads in approximately 65 days, and matures in 104 to 107 days (similar to spring wheat). Plants are hardy to at least -20°C.

Canary grass will grow on many types of soils but has performed well on heavier, clay loam soils of medium-high fertility. Canary seed requires ample moisture to obtain maximum yields, and so does more poorly on sandier soils. Some growers have found that canary grass is more tolerant of saline soils than wheat. Plants can be very invasive, especially in moist conditions, where dense growth provides good cover for water fowl.

Plants have a running root system and form an impenetrable ground cover. They should be mown 2 - 3 times in their first 2 – 3 years in order to encourage thick growth. Plants are best spaced about 60cm apart each way. Plant canary grass in 4 to 7 in rows with a grain drill. Studies indicate that seeding rates above 1,500,000 seeds/acre are needed for adequate stands, but very little yield increase occurred with densities greater than this. Current recommended seeding rates are 30 lb/acre viable seeds or 40 seeds/ft 2 (1,742,000 seeds/acre). Plant seeds 1/2 to 1 1/2 in. deep, depending upon moisture conditions. A bushel of seed weighs 50 pounds. Nutrient uptake is likely to be somewhat lower than for other spring sown cereals as seed and straw yields are generally lower. To date insects and diseases have not been a major problem, aphids are only occasionally a problem during seed fill. Since annual canary grass seedlings are poor competitors, essential weed control is essential for successful production. Although some weeds have been controlled with cultural practices and herbicides the main problems are wild oats and several broad leaved weed species. Removing grass weeds from canary grass is difficult because of the narrow margin of selectivity.

The plant is a source of Dimethyltryptamine which has hallucinogenic, hypertensive, mydriatic, neurotoxic and sympathomimetic activities.

The flowers are classed as hermaphrodite, wind is responsible for pollination. There have been no direct recordings of canary grass providing food or shelter for native wildlife.


Research
Research has recently been carried out to investigate whether high sowing rates reduce seed weight in canary seed. Increasing planting density from 120-308 plants per m² and delaying sowing did not significantly change average seed weight. However, increasing plant density from 120-213 plants per m² did significantly reduce average seed weight. Delayed sowing from June until August resulted in larger yields, but higher sowing rates had little effect on yield. (Ford et al, 2001)


Useful Websites

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/cangrass.html - Alternative Field Crops Manual (Annual Canarygrass)


BioMat Net


Contacts

Springdale Crop Synergies Ltd,
Mr Clifford Spencer, Springdale Crop Synergies Ltd, Rudston, Driffield, East Yorkshire,
YO25 4DJ, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 1262 421100
Website: http://www.springdale-group.com


References