Cover Crops: Rye
Table of Contents
- Description: Family
- Growth Habits
- Control Options
- Sensitivity to Herbicides: Weed Control
- Benefits and Concerns
- Getting Started
- Related Links
Description
Figure 1. Cover Crop of Rye
Figure 2. Closeup picture of rye
Family
- Grass
Growth Habits
Germination and Emergence
- Will germinate in cold temperatures – 1 to 2°C but vegetative growth requires 4°C
Top Growth
- Taller than wheat, mature crop 120 to 150 cm in height; Warm wet weather in spring can cause rapid growth from 15 cm to 1 m in a short period of time
- Long day plant – will flower when daylight hours exceed 14 hours and temperatures average 5 to 10°C
- When flowering starts – vegetative growth stops
Root System
- Fibrous
- Extensive - can cover 1 m radius and 2 m depth of soil
Overwintering
- Does not winter kill
- As living tissue, there is greater resistant to sand abrasion over winter
- Resumes growth in spring faster than wheat
Site suitability
- More drought tolerant than wheat or oats
- Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions but does best in well drained light soils – sands, loamy sands, sandy loams and gravelly soils
Control Options
Figure 3. Monitored crop of rye
- Can be harder to kill than other cereals – timing and control options are critical
- Mow when crop goes into flowering stage (vegetative growth has stopped) for non-chemical control
- Requires careful management of chemical control in the spring
- Low rates of glyphosate can kill the plant – but leave it standing. This prolongs protective features longer. High rates of glyphosate will knock the crop down leaving less wind protection.
Sensitivity to Herbicides: Weed Control
- There are many herbicides registered for use in wheat but good weed control for a cover crop should not be expensive and may not be needed. Establish a vigorous crop canopy to smother out weeds.
Benefits and Concerns
Nutrient Management
- Best cool season cereal crop for taking up leftover nitrogen from previous manure application(s);
- Can tie up nitrogen in spring when needed by following crop;
- Rye may help to increase the concentration of potassium at the surface due to its extensive root system
Pest Management
- Competitive growth habits – good for suppressing weeds;
- Allelopathic effect – prevents weed germination and growth, but can have allelopathic effect on other grass-like crops e.g. corn
Organic Matter
- Large volumes of plant biomass returned to soil
Erosion Control
- Wind abatement strips;
- On tomato beds;
- As strips in tobacco or vegetable fields;
- Preferred because it does not winterkill and is resilient to sand blasting
Soil Moisture
- More drought tolerant than wheat or oats
Getting Started
Establishment
- Shade tolerant – can be overseeded into a standing crop of corn before leaf drop;
- Only cover crop that can be planted in the late fall and still provide some soil cover, although the protection may not be highly effective until early spring;
- Cold tolerant - established rye can withstand temperatures of – 35° C
Cost & Availability
- Seed is relatively inexpensive and readily available
Related Links
For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca