MORE HISTORY & DETAIL

!!!WARNING!!! This is a long post, created for those who want more detail!

BACKGROUND
In recent years, much has been publicized about the use of barley straw for the inhibition of algae in bodies of water.
This technique was developed in England in the early 1990's, with it being widely used there in large reservoirs and canals. Additional studies began stateside, including Purdue University, Iowa State University, University of Nebraska and North Carolina State University and Florida State University, among others.

Although some of the studies had mixed results, it is realized that variations in algae species, water conditions, climatic conditions, or other factors will come into play. Based on the findings in these studies as well as the field evidence of its use in England and the U.S., the practice of using barley straw to inhibit algae growth was introduced into the United States in 2001.

EXAMPLE FOR DETERMINING HOW MUCH TO USE

Example: Determining the amount of straw required to treat a 5 acre lake.
(1) The surface area of the lake is 5 acres.
(2) The selected dose is 225 lbs of straw per acre.
(3) Multiply the area of the lake (in acres) by the amount of straw required per acre to
calculate the total amount of straw required to treat the whole lake (5 acres x 225 lbs/acre = 1125 lbs).
(4) To calculate the number to bales needed to treat the lake, divide the total amount of straw
required to treat the whole lake by the weight of a single bale of barley straw. For this
example, assume one bale weighs 45 pounds. However, the size and weight of bales can
be highly variable. It is recommended that the approximate weight of the bales be
determined at the time of purchase (1125 lbs ÷ 45 lbs/bale = 25 bales).


As always, the folks here at Eastern Sierra Commodities, Ltd., are happy to discuss your specific needs
and advise you in facilitating your usage of barley straw as a algal regrowth inhibitor.