Why is Rye as a Cover Crop an Effective Weed Killer?

And another from Claire...

John Teasdale from the USDA's Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory has teamed up with Cliff Rice from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service to investigate the science behind why rye works as a cover crop against weeds. Rye is often used on organic farms as an alternative to herbicides, because of its ability to prevent soil erosion and block sunlight, thereby suppressing weed invasion. Teasdale and Rice have tested whether organic compounds found in rye, called benzoxazinoids, are also responsible for weed suppression. Their results suggest that benzoxazinoids do affect soil chemistry in ways that enhance the weed-suppressing abilities of rye and are worthy of further study.

Links:

• Why rye cover crops are great natural weed killers via the USDA's Agricultural Research Service


• Rye as a Cover Crop - Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (PDF)

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 7:00 AM on November 2, 2009