RYE

Rye is a versatile, relatively low input cereal crop which can be grown for grain with an increasing area planted locally for whole crop providing a useful second forage on livestock farms.

Establishment

Ideally sow winter hybrid rye from mid-September to midOctober. Seed rates are lower than for conventional winter cereals at around 100kg/ha depending on TGW and planting date. Rye should not be drilled too deep, 2cm of firm soil over the seed is ideal. Rye is susceptible to slug damage and the ground should be rolled to reduce slug movement and crop damage.

Nutrition

Apply phosphorous and potassium in the seed bed as per soil analysis to meet crop requirements. Rye requires 20-30% less nitrogen compared to wheat, typically 150kgN/ha (120 units/ acre).

Disease control

Main threats come from mildew early in the season following a mild autumn/spring and brown rust which usually appears later in the season as the ears emerge.

Yield

11-13 t/ha (4.5-5t/acre) of grain from relatively low level of inputs, comparable to a first wheat but outyielding barley and wheat as a second or third cereal in the rotation with the added benefit of up to 30% more straw. For whole crop you can expect fresh yields of 35-40t/ha (14-16t/acre).

Spring Rye Varieties

Ovid

• Hardy variety suitable to a range of land types.

• Rapid growth with high dry matter yields.

• Comparatively high crude protein content.

Winter Hybrid Rye Varieties

KWS Serafino

• High yielding variety from KWS.

• Strong defence against leaf diseases, ergot, and ear disease complex.

• Pollen Plus gene.

SU Arvid

• Very high and stable yield due to a longer grain filling phase.

• Short growing type with good lodging tolerance and high dry matter.

• Highest yielding variety during 2018 drought.

Bojko

• An alternative rye suitable for spring and autumn sowing.

• Fast growing with high yield.

• Good disease tolerance.

KWS Tayo

• Multi-purpose variety (AD, wholecrop or grain).

• New benchmark for grain yields.

• Better standing power.

• Number one harvest index (grains/ear) to drive grain yield.

Unlike wheat or barley, rye is a cross pollinating species which means it can be more susceptible to poor flowering and pollinating leading to lower grain yields and in some cases high incidence of ergot. Breeders have tried to overcome this problem by using an additional variety as a pollinator with the variety purchased.

KWS has found a solution to this by introducing a gene into all their hybrids that increases the formation of pollen, ensuring good quality flowering and pollination of grain sites. As a result, grain yields are more consistent from season to season helping ensure some of the highest total biomass yields and high quality crops with a good grain yield