CSES 3444 Class Notes 11

Rye I. Topic

Rye was one of last cereals to be cultivated. Rye only became important in areas where its main competitors, wheat and barley, did not grow well.

II. Learning Objectives

	To learn where rye is grown and why.
	To understand the basic soil, fertility, and cultural practices necessary for rye production.
	To understand the role of rye in cropping systems.
	To learn how rye is used.

III. Overview

Rye originated in South West Asia, but was not domesticated because wheat and barley not only out-yielded rye, but were also more acceptable food grains. Rye did not contain the gluten that was present in wheat and, therefore, did not rise. The bread produced from rye was heavier and darker.

However, as agriculture moved from the more favored river bottom location to the colder and drier climates, wheat and barley were not as productive. Rye could stand lower temperatures and grew in less fertile soil. Rye is still one of the most important flour sources in Northern Europe and in Scandinavia.

Rye is never grown with wheat in a rotation because rye shatters (heads loose grain before harvest) readily and seeds and plants can survive under adverse environmental conditions. This makes rye a weed in wheat (the seeds are so nearly the same size they can't be separated). However, in rotations with other crops, rye can replace any of the small grains. Rye makes an excellent soil-conserving crop, a nutrient trap (to keep fertility from a previous crop from leaching into the environment), or a winter pasture crop.

IV. Introduction

1. Originated in South West Asia

2. Rye was one of the last cereals to be cultivated.

Failure to become major food crop partly due to fact that both wheat and barley already intensely cultivated when it came on the scene

3. Bread produced from rye is heavier, darker, and less preferred than wheat.

However, it is leading source of flour in Europe and Scandinavia
Second only to wheat in those areas

4. Leading countries: USSR Poland West Germany East Germany U. S. Turkey Canada	CONCEPT Rye is used as a food only in areas too cold and infertile to grow other cereals.
5. In U. S.: South Dakota North Dakota Nevada Minnesota	CONCEPT Rye is the most winter hardy of all the small grains. Can be planted last in the fall when grown as a winter crop.

6. Does not out yield winter wheat under favorable wheat conditions.

It is shorter growing period
Heavier straw growth
Low spikelet fertility

7. Rye can be grown anywhere in U. S. but mostly grown in northern states.

8. Can withstand all kinds of adverse conditions except heat.

9. Rye will germinate at temperatures at or close to freezing and it is more winter hardy than any other cereal crop.

10.

It is only grain that will succeed on coarse sandy soils.

11. Rye likes a pH range of 5.5-7.0.

12. Late spring frost can injure its early flowering habit.

Botanical Composition

1. Rye is an annual, grown mostly as a winter annual.

A long day plant

2. It has a spike inflorescence containing:

One spike/node
3 florets/spike let
The center floret is sterile

Each floret consists of

a broad, barbed keeled, awned lemma

a thin, 2 keeled palea

CONCEPT

Rye, like wheat, looses it's sees leaves (lemma and palea) in threshing - thus a bushel whight approaching wheat.

3. The kernel of rye is narrower than a wheat kernel.

4. The kernel is naked.

The lemma and palea thresh free when combined

5. Rye is cross pollinated and sterility is frequent.

Up to 1/3 of florets can be infertile

6. Stems of rye are longer and larger than wheat.

Average plant height is 5 ft. (1.5 m)

7. The leaves are coarser and more blush in color than wheat.

8. Prolific vegetative growth is typical.

Well suited for use as green manure crop
Extensive root system is why it outdoes wheat in dry climates

9. Because it is cross-pollinated, few varieties will maintain distinct characteristics

So variety will quickly adapt to new conditions

CONCEPT In addition to cold tollerance, rye has better drought tolerance compared to other cereals.

Culture

Seeded preparation.

Requires a firm, well prepared seeded
In humid areas, fall plow, disc and harrow
In semi-arid areas, plowing and harrowing dry out the soil

It is best to sow into stubble of previous crop
If weeds are present, they can be a big problem

Seeded preparation is not necessary for rye following cotton, corn, or other inter-tilled crops.

Seeding.

Sow with a grain drill at a rate of 1.0 - 1.5 bu/A or 1.5-2.0 bu/A if used for grazing
Sown at or about the same time as winter wheat
If it is to be used as pasture, it can be seeded as early as August
In the West, it is usually drilled into small grain stubble which will hold snow and protect the rye plants from winter kill

Fertilizer

1. Rye can be grown without fertilizer. However, this is not recommended.

2. In Virginia, recommendations are as follows:

16-70 lb. N
0-60 lb.. P₂O₅ Applied at time of planting
0-60 lb.. K₂O

CONCEPT Rye is most seseptable grain to lodging (falling down) because it grows the tallest.

3. 16-40 lb.. N applied as a top dress in February or early March if lodging is not expected.

Heavy N fertilization in spring can bring about lodging and disease problems

This is a good time for manure and P application

Harvest

1. Rye almost always combined.

2. Usually harvested a short time ahead of wheat.

June 10 to July 10 in Virginia

3. Average yield is 20-30 bu/A.

Bushel weight 56 lb.

Rotations

1. Rye volunteers freely because the grain shatters readily and seeds and plants survive under adverse environmental conditions.

2. For this reason, it is not grown in rotations with wheat or in winter wheat regions.

The resulting wheat/rye mixtures lower market value

3. It can replace wheat, oats, or barley in crop rotations which include a small grain.

CONCEPT Rye becomes a weed in wheat because of thattering and volunteering since grains (seeds) are nearly the same size, it's difficult to separate them.

Utilization

1. In U. S.:

2% of the grain is used for livestock

20% is used for alcohol and food

30% used for seed

CONCEPT

Rye makes the best winter pasture of the cereals (except for lactating cows - rye flavors milk.

2. Rye provides abundant, early vegetative growth in the fall and spring and is most suitable cereal crop for fall and early spring grazing

This can be done without reducing grain yields

3. Rye straw has a low nutritional value and is usually used as bedding material.

4. Rye grain has a feed value which is 85-90% that of corn.

It is not highly palatable
It gets sticky when chewed

5. Rye is usually ground and fed in mixtures of other small grains.

About 1/3 rye in mix

6. Because of prolific growth, rye is well suited for use as a green manure - cover crop.

It should be turned under before it is fully mature
If too mature, addition of N needed to help with decomposition
Should be plowed under at least two weeks planting to preserve moisture for new crop

7. If sown thinly, rye can be used as a companion crop for legume establishment.

8. Undesirable pasture for milk cows.

Can give bad taste to the milk

CONCEPT

Rye is not the best companion crop because it is so vigorous - it competes with legumes in seeding.

9. Can be utilized as silage.

Harvested at peak of nutrition, wilted to 40-55% moisture, chopped to 1/4-3/8", cut and processed in a 0₂ limiting storage structure
Cut not later than boot stage
Rye silage contains:

33% DM, 13.1% crude protein, 64 TDN

V. Summary

Although rye competes poorly with other cereals as a food crop and as livestock feed, rye has some special characteristics that make it a valuable addition to a cropping system. Rye grows in cold, infertile soils. In many places, rye grows well in the winter, making a soil erosion control crop, a winter pasture, or a prolific spring green manure crop.

VI. Self Assessment

	Know where rye is grown and why.
	What are the negative characteristics that make rye less valuable for human and animal consumption?
	Be able to explain how rye does fit in a cropping system and why.

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Last updated January 23, 2008