Javascript is required to use this website.

Rye the right crop for "nabbing" nitrates, capturing carbon and generating bioenergy

Aug 11, 2023
Aug 11, 2023

Winter rye cover crops offer multiple benefits, including carbon sequestration.
Submitted photo by Tom Kasper

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Winter rye is prized for its versatility. It is a source of grain and also a forage and ground cover that protects the soil from erosion by wind and rain. But the benefits of winter rye don’t stop there.

kAmp D6C:6D @7 DEF5:6D[ 368F? :? a_`d[ 3J 2 E62> @7 p8C:4F=EFC2= #6D62C49 $6CG:46 Wp#$X 2?5 F?:G6CD:EJ 4@==23@C2E@CD DF886DE E92E 6DE23=:D9:?8 2 4@G6C 4C@A @7 H:?E6C CJ6 36EH66? C@E2E:@?D @7 4@C? 2?5 D@J362? 42? C65F46 ?:EC2E6 =@DD6D[ D6BF6DE6C 42C3@?[ 2?5 AC@G:56 2 D@FC46 @7 C6?6H23=6 ?2EFC2= 82D]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^=?<D]85^=^6Jy93v4:~:yx&Kx`}:yh]6Jy:5(ID+)#A3=hD2(dC)a=<x;@I|stDx?'J2$xex>yH|;A;3v=;2JxDx?'J3rxex>9_5wqK~:gG5b5b{>uJ4Jd`4a#9{>5G5:hH+(hH3v&E3vh;*)#A3adK{bq=4?}G3:g04v'J4ahF{(=<!%|`}%">5)#E)a`=+v=`3%`=3(uA3r+`5v`74ah`4>}=!(5G5>#=3v=a+)ydx:H:*?'D3v'_2(d72(":~:xJ|sxK|s8I|rcc|s<J|K<J|$yh]'gc2h2u\?\s#'$h3~eH?G|~s#%w6C44xbFhh2++*>}4^D^``fgabdbac^3C^aac__hcagba_\=00jPP{G*K:4xP:uz4D&r70#IfG&Hyyw'{({s%C0z`s@b*9$Ha:6C@5'_@q<Bv7v%v}gv86s@B'zptbw4f5GKEEz>|I=;e?vpz2p4H;)rIJ\+dtf_4+ar7CHSQm#@36CE |2=@?6k^2m[ 2? 28C:4F=EFC2= 6?8:?66C H:E9 E96 p#$ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^=?<D]85^=^6Jy93v4:~:yx&Kx`}:yh]6Jy:5(ID+)#A3=hD2(dC)a=<x;@I|sxDx?'J2$xex>yH|;A;3v=;2JxDx?'J3rxex>9_5wqK~:gG5b5b{>uJ4Jd`4a#9{>5G5:hE2(#b+)}_{(uJ+(tG*(`=4JhF3vu={Kh`5v`73('<2)'E!('E*(=Dy?'_3'hK3b'J*a&h+aha+v'D2)+=4?<:{ry:5(ID+)#A3=hA+rxex;xH|;|H~stH{;8H~%xK~%xIx?_]G_zE8FAs=v>p_Hf7q%w9{0EC\2w)}4*!'b;*D~{8t58^D^``fgabdbac^3C^aac__hcagba_\=00jPP{G*K:4xP:uz4D&r70#IfG&Hyyw'{({s%C0z`s@b*9$Ha:6C@5'_@q<Bv7v%v}gv86s@B'zptbw4f5GKEEz>|I=;e?vpz2p4H;)rIJ\+dtf`%0fc+GHSQm}2E:@?2= {23@C2E@CJ 7@C p8C:4F=EFC6 2?5 E96 t?G:C@?>6?Ek^2m :? p>6D[ x@H2[ :D 4@@C5:?2E:?8 E96 DEF5:6D E@ 6G2=F2E6 CJ6’D A@E6?E:2= C@=6 :? E96 QDFDE2:?23=6 :?E6?D:7:42E:@? @7 28C:4F=EFC6Q – 2? 2AAC@249 566>65 4C:E:42= E@ >66E:?8 8C@H:?8 H@C=5 56>2?5 7@C 7@@5[ 7665[ 7:36C[ 2?5 7F6= H:E9@FE @G6CE2I:?8 H92E E96 =2?5 2?5 ?2EFC2= C6D@FC46D 42? AC@G:56]k^Am

kAmx? E96 =2E6DE DEF5:6D[ E96 E62> FD65 2 7:6=5\D42=6 4@>AFE6C >@56= E@ D:>F=2E6 C@E2E:@?D @7 4@C? 2?5 D@J362?[ H:E9 @C H:E9@FE H:?E6C CJ6 4@G6C 4C@AD[ 2E c_ D:E6D 24C@DD E96 }@CE9 r6?EC2= &?:E65 $E2E6D[ :?4=F5:?8 A2CED @7 E96 |:DD:DD:AA: #:G6C q2D:?[ H9:49 6>AE:6D :?E@ E96 vF=7 @7 |6I:4@]k^Am

kAmp>@?8 C6DF=ED C646?E=J AF3=:D965 :? E96 ;@FC?2= @7 k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^=?<D]85^=^6Jy93v4:~:yx&Kx`}:yh]6Jy:5(ID+)#A3=hD2(dC)a=<x;@I|s|Dx?'J2$xex>yH|;A;3v=;2JxDx?'J3rxex>9_5wqK~:gG2(hH4a}A+(d;+$dA3bpF3by?{auJ5v=;3v&G|%pF|%pc~rgI}K"c{%<K|;*G*(}<}Kpc{bq<+;h`5v`73('<2)'E!('E*(=Dy?'_3'hK3b'J*a&h+aha+v'D2)+=4?<:{ry:5(ID+)#A3=hA+rxex;xH|;|H~stH{;8H~%xK~%xIx?_]#p#Gr@<4rI5E;;&}r_9:;D&xt)"<\{AB9|ECdC?&2c@^D^``fgabdbac^3C^aac__hcagba_\=00jPP{G*K:4xP:uz4D&r70#IfG&Hyyw'{({s%C0z`s@b*9$Ha:6C@5'_@q<Bv7v%v}gv86s@B'zptbw4f5GKEEz>|I=;e?vpz2p4H;)rIJ\+dtfbA%<qz(HSQmt?G:C@?>6?E2= #6D62C49 {6EE6CDk^2mk^6>mk6>mik^6>mk^Am

kF=mk=:mtDE23=:D9:?8 2 H:?E6C CJ6 4@G6C 4C@A 36EH66? 4@C?\D@J362? C@E2E:@?D :? E:=6\5C2:?65 7:6=5D W>62?:?8[ E9@D6 FD:?8 2 DJDE6> @7 F?56C8C@F?5 5C2:?286 A:A6D E@ C6>@G6 6I46DD H2E6CX C65F465 ?:EC2E6 =6G6=D :? 5C2:?286 H2E6C 3J >@C6 E92? cdT 4@>A2C65 E@ CJ6\7C66 7:6=5D—@C 23@FE a` 2?5 cc <:=@8C2>D A6C 964E2C6[ C6DA64E:G6=J] k^=:mk=:mp4C@DD E96 eb\E@E2= >:==:@? 964E2C6D W2AAC@I:>2E6=J `de >:==:@? 24C6DX @7 }@CE9 r6?EC2= 72C>=2?5 E92E E96 >@56=’D D:>F=2E:@?D 6?4@>A2DD65[ FD6 @7 2 H:?E6C CJ6 4@G6C 4C@AD @? E:=6\5C2:?65 7:6=5D EC2?D=2E65 E@ 2 afT C65F4E:@? :? ?:EC2E6 =@25D 6?E6C:?8 E96 vF=7 @7 |6I:4@ G:2 E96 |:DD:DD:AA: #:G6C 32D:?]k^=:mk^F=m

kAm}:EC2E6 A@D6D 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@?46C? H96? :E 8@6D F?FD65 3J 4C@A A=2?ED 2?5 6D42A6D :?E@ DEC62>D[ C:G6C[ =2<6D 2?5 @E96C 3@5:6D @7 DFC7246 H2E6C[ 4@>AC@>:D:?8 H2E6C BF2=:EJ 2?5 96=A:?8 7F6= 2=82= 3=@@>D] %96 DF3D6BF6?E 562E9 2?5 5642J @7 E96 2=826 :? E96D6 3=@@>D 4@?DF>6D @IJ86?[ <:==:?8 @C 5C:G:?8 @77 7:D9 2?5 @E96C 2BF2E:4 =:76]k^Am

kAmx? 4@2DE2= H2E6CD =:<6 E96 vF=7 @7 |6I:4@[ E9:D 4@?5:E:@? :D <?@H? 2D 9JA@I:2[ 2?5 :E 4C62E6D 2 Q5625 K@?6Q DA2??:?8 D6G6C2= E9@FD2?5 DBF2C6 >:=6D[ 2 D:K6 E92E 42? 6I24E 2 4@DE=J E@== @? 4@>>6C4:2= 7:D96C:6D 2?5 @E96C 2DD@4:2E65 :?5FDEC:6D] %9:D DF>>6C[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ E96 vF=7’D 5625 K@?6 :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^=?<D]85^=^6Jy93v4:~:yx&Kx`}:yh]6Jy:5(ID+)#A3=hD2(dC)a=<x;@I|s"Dx?'J2$xex>yH|;A;3v=;2JxDx?'J3rxex>9_5wqK~:gG5b5b{>dG*(tF+aha{ad=5b|E4>'D+(uK+$hF3au9{(+G4>';*)}_4J`:+(IG5J`95>'J*(5={)}`3(`=4:`<+(u<{)AG3>&E2(cE+b'D+:`G+:`E+)9A*ag05)#E)a`=+v=`3%`=3(uA3r+`5v`74ah`4>}=!(5G5>#=3v=a+)ydx:H:*?'D3v'_2(d72(":~:xJ|sxK|s8I|rcc|s<J|K<J|$yh]"d;\<9@fCz?uF:{p$93H7|@F4ufG8A;2&y{b~ha3FHx^D^``fgabdbac^3C^aac__hcagba_\=00jPP{G*K:4xP:uz4D&r70#IfG&Hyyw'{({s%C0z`s@b*9$Ha:6C@5'_@q<Bv7v%v}gv86s@B'zptbw4f5GKEEz>|I=;e?vpz2p4H;)rIJ\+dtfa!b\h@5"SQm7@C642DE65k^2m E@ 4@G6C c[`dd DBF2C6 >:=6D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Gypsy Vanners: Beautiful horses with an abundance of hair and the look of a draft
Pros and cons of popular conservation practices
South Dakota's three largest dairy processors are growing, and so are their plans
Father-daughter duo turns milkweed into multi-faceted enterprise
After 19 years, a new life for 751
Cattle grazing can be invasive grass management tool
For better or worse, for planting or harvest: Marriage and the farm
Big decisions and hard work at the Stockyards
CSA owner gets creative with plans for the future
Sixth generation sets ambitions for family ranch
Extension evolves through flat funding
Argentine genetics heading to Canada, while celebrating with beef in America

kAmQp G2C:6EJ @7 724E@CD—:?4=F5:?8 E96 67764ED @7 6I46DD ?FEC:6?ED 2?5 H2E6C\3@5J DEC2E:7:42E:@? W=2J6C:?8X 5F6 E@ D2=:?6 @C E6>A6C2EFC6 8C25:6?ED—42? 4C62E6 9JA@I:4 4@?5:E:@?D] x? }@CE9 p>6C:42[ E96 D:K6 @7 E96 9JA@I:4 2C62 :? E96 vF=7 @7 |6I:4@ 4@CC6=2E6D DEC@?8=J H:E9 DAC:?8 ?:EC2E6\?:EC@86? =@25D 7C@> E96 |:DD:DD:AA: #:G6C[Q 6IA=2:?65 |2=@?6[ H9@ 4@==23@C2E6D @? E96 >@56==:?8 DEF5:6D H:E9 `d @E96C C6D62C496CD 7C@> E9C66 p#$ =23@C2E@C:6D 2?5 7@FC F?:G6CD:E:6D]k^Am

kAmr=:>2E6\492?86 >2J :?4C62D6 E96 =:<6=:9@@5 @7 9JA@I:4 4@?5:E:@?D :? E96 vF=7 @7 |6I:4@[ =6?5:?8 FC86?4J E@ &]$] t?G:C@?>6?E2= !C@E64E:@? p86?4J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^=?<D]85^=^6Jy93v4:~:yx&Kx`}:yh]6Jy:5(ID+)#A3=hD2(dC)a=<x;@I|s&Dx?'J2$xex>yH|;A;3v=;2JxDx?'J3rxex>9_5wqK~:gG5b5b{>'H*$d?3b*G3)|E2w#>!b'_3'hE+(#A5(_h+(`92(H>5)#E)b}G5)y;+%`?3b+<+(IA5>'J6$xDx>y`3vI=5v=F)a=<x;@:|;pJ|Kpc|%pF~spd|;|d|;t:7"]%>;Ct$'c'0Jwu|%4*+zI)?0eeh7!w@(e0K"EdHrs2wH^D^``fgabdbac^3C^aac__hcagba_\=00jPP{G*K:4xP:uz4D&r70#IfG&Hyyw'{({s%C0z`s@b*9$Ha:6C@5'_@q<Bv7v%v}gv86s@B'zptbw4f5GKEEz>|I=;e?vpz2p4H;)rIJ\+dtf`#uDI~)HSQmE2D< 7@C46k^2m 677@CED E@ C65F46 ?:EC@86? 2?5 A9@DA9@C@FD =@25D 7C@> E96 |:DD:DD:AA: #:G6C 32D:? 3J cdT 3J a_bd] k^Am

kAmQ%96 FD6 @7 4@G6C 4C@AD DF49 2D H:?E6C CJ6 :? 4@C?\D@J362? C@E2E:@?D :? E96 }@CE9\r6?EC2= &]$] :D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE AC@>:D:?8 4@?D6CG2E:@? DEC2E68:6D 7@C C65F4:?8 ?:EC2E6 =@25D E@ DEC62>D 2?5 C:G6CD E92E 5:D492C86 :?E@ E96 |:DD:DD:AA: #:G6C[Q 244@C5:?8 E@ |2=@?6] k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ 4FC3:?8 ?:EC2E6 =@DD6D[ H:?E6C CJ6 4@G6C 4C@AD >2J 2=D@ 92G6 2 C@=6 E@ A=2J :? 42AEFC:?8 W@C[ QD6BF6DE6C:?8QX 42C3@?]k^Am

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 >@56=’D D:>F=2E:@?D[ 6DE23=:D9:?8 H:?E6C CJ6 4@G6C 4C@AD :? 4@C?\D@J362? C@E2E:@?D 24C@DD E96 }@CE9 r6?EC2= &]$] 4@F=5 AC@5F46 >@C6 E92? `h]g >:==:@? E@?D @7 7:6=5 C6D:5F6[ 42==65 Q3:@>2DD]Q %92E CJ6 C6D:5F6[ :? EFC?[ 92D A@E6?E:2= E@ J:6=5 a`_ >:==:@? >682;@F=6D @7 6?6C8J 2??F2==J—E96 6BF:G2=6?E 6?6C8J 4@?E6?E @7 a]b 3:==:@? 82==@?D @7 6E92?@=—H6C6 :E E@ 36 4@?G6CE65 :?E@ 3:@\>6E92?6 82D FD:?8 2?26C@3:4 5:86DE6CD]k^Am

kAm%96 D:>F=2E:@?D 2=D@ :?5:42E6 E92E :? E96 3:@\>6E92?6 AC@5F4E:@? AC@46DD[ 2 DE2?52C5 7:=EC2E:@? DE6A 42==65 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^=?<D]85^=^6Jy93v4:~:yx&Kx`}:yh]6Jy:5(ID+)#A3=hD2(dC)a=<x;@I|s*Dx?'J2$xex>yH|;A;3v=;2JxDx?'J3rxex>9_5wqK~:gG5b5b{?};2('F*a'<2)y=*b"F*ahE{b};2('F*a&G*)y_2(}D+$hH2(<G&Kpd};td}%|_|;xH|spc|K*05)#E)a`=+v=`3%`=3(uA3r+`5v`74ah`4>}=!(5G5>#=3v=a+)ydx:H:*?'D3v'_2(d72(":~:xJ|sxK|s8I|rcc|s<J|K<J|$yh]rv_7|qAID_f`7>Kret"+Gw8AuA8*~J='`7t$40@7~:"^D^``fgabdbac^3C^aac__hcagba_\=00jPP{G*K:4xP:uz4D&r70#IfG&Hyyw'{({s%C0z`s@b*9$Ha:6C@5'_@q<Bv7v%v}gv86s@B'zptbw4f5GKEEz>|I=;e?vpz2p4H;)rIJ\+dtf`s<:x3y"SQmFA8C25:?8k^2m” 4@F=5 6?23=6 E96 C6>@G2= 2?5 42AEFC6 g]b >:==:@? E@?D 2??F2==J @7 42C3@? 5:@I:56[ AC6G6?E:?8 :ED C6=62D6 324< :?E@ E96 2E>@DA96C6 H96? E96 3:@82D :D 3FC?65 7@C A@H6C @C 962E 2?5 4C62E:?8 2 42C3@? D6BF6DEC2E:@? 36?67:E 7@C 72C>6CD] k^Am

kAm%96 C6D62C496CD 5@?’E G:6H H:?E6C CJ6 4@G6C 4C@AD 2D 2 AC@G6C3:2= Q>28:4 3F==6EQ 7@C >2?28:?8 ?:EC@86? 2?5 :>AC@G:?8 E96 6?G:C@?>6?E[ 9@H6G6C] #2E96C[ :E’D =:<6=J E@ 36 :?E68C2E65 H:E9 @E96C >62DFC6D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 FD6 @7 D2EFC2E65 C:A2C:2? 3F776CD[ 4@?EC@==65 5C2:?286[ H6E=2?5D 2?5 3:@C624E@CD]k^Am

kAmQr@>3:?65 4@?D6CG2E:@? AC24E:46D DF49 2D H:?E6C CJ6 4@G6C 4C@AD 2?5 6586\@7\7:6=5 AC24E:46D =:<6 FD:?8 E96 D2EFC2E65 3F776CD 2C6 D@>6E:>6D 42==65 VDE24<65 AC24E:46D[V 2?5 E96J >2J C65F46 ?:EC@86? =@DD >@C6 E92? H96? 6249 AC24E:46 :D FD65 :?5:G:5F2==J[Q D2:5 |2=@?6]k^Am

kAmp=@?8 H:E9 4@==628F6D :? p>6D[ |2=@?6 4@\2FE9@C65 E96 k6>mt?G:C@?>6?E2= #6D62C49 {6EE6CDk^6>mk6>m k^6>mA2A6C E@86E96C H:E9 D4:6?E:DED 7C@> E96 p#$ $@:= 2?5 (2E6C |2?286>6?E #6D62C49 &?:E[ E96 p#$ pC:5\{2?5 p8C:4F=EFC2= #6D62C49 r6?E6C[ !6??DJ=G2?:2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ |4v:== &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 !FC5F6 &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am

The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in U.S. agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.