Kristine Neu and Ajay Nair,
Department of Horticulture,
Iowa State University
Cereal rye plots at anthesis on May 21, 2016.
Early summer has kept us busy with our cereal rye cultivar trial located at the ISU Horticulture Research Station near Gilbert, IA. This study is comparing five cultivars of cereal rye (Aroostook, Elbon, Prima, Wheeler, and Wrens Abruzzi) for their performance as a cover crop in a roller crimping system. Each cultivar was planted on two dates last fall - September 16 and October 13.
One of our primary questions of interest is, "When does each cultivar reach anthesis?" This question is important because cereal rye cannot be successfully killed with a roller crimper until it has reach flowering stage, also known as anthesis. We saw Aroostook reaching anthesis on May 17 with Elbon and Wrens Abruzzi following two days later. Prima and Wheeler both reached anthesis on May 21.
Due to recent rain our roller crimping was slightly delayed, and all plots were terminated with the roller crimper on Friday, June 3. The plots were evaluated on Tuesday, June 7 to assess the success of the kill with the roller crimper. Aroostook and Wrens Abruzzi appear to have the best rate of kill and would be ready for strip tilling and planting of a vegetable crop. Wheeler and Prima appear to be standing back up, and would require another round of roller crimping to be a viable mulch bed.
For more information on cereal rye and roller crimping, please visit reference our extension publication Strip Tillage in Vegetable Production.
Department of Horticulture,
Iowa State University
Cereal rye plots at anthesis on May 21, 2016.
Early summer has kept us busy with our cereal rye cultivar trial located at the ISU Horticulture Research Station near Gilbert, IA. This study is comparing five cultivars of cereal rye (Aroostook, Elbon, Prima, Wheeler, and Wrens Abruzzi) for their performance as a cover crop in a roller crimping system. Each cultivar was planted on two dates last fall - September 16 and October 13.
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| Pollen being shed at anthesis. |
One of our primary questions of interest is, "When does each cultivar reach anthesis?" This question is important because cereal rye cannot be successfully killed with a roller crimper until it has reach flowering stage, also known as anthesis. We saw Aroostook reaching anthesis on May 17 with Elbon and Wrens Abruzzi following two days later. Prima and Wheeler both reached anthesis on May 21.
 |
| Cereal rye being terminated with the roller crimper. |
Due to recent rain our roller crimping was slightly delayed, and all plots were terminated with the roller crimper on Friday, June 3. The plots were evaluated on Tuesday, June 7 to assess the success of the kill with the roller crimper. Aroostook and Wrens Abruzzi appear to have the best rate of kill and would be ready for strip tilling and planting of a vegetable crop. Wheeler and Prima appear to be standing back up, and would require another round of roller crimping to be a viable mulch bed.
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| Prima (left) and Aroostook (right) on June 7. |
For more information on cereal rye and roller crimping, please visit reference our extension publication Strip Tillage in Vegetable Production.
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