Annual ryegrass as a cover crop

Lolium multiflorum

Type: cool season annual grass

Pros: moderate potential to scavenge nutrients, suppress weeds, improve soil health, prevent erosion

Overwintering potential: no

Planting date: late July through October

Seeding depth: 0.25” to 0.5” – rainfall/soil moisture needed to get good establishment

Seeding rate: drilled = 10 – 15 pounds per acre; overseeded = 15 – 20 pounds per acre

* based on typical use timing in a corn and soybean cropping system.

References and Resources

SARE. 2007. Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3^rd edition. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, College Park, MD.

MCCC. 2020. Cover Crop Selector Tool. Midwest Cover Crops Council, West Lafayette, IN.