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Sowing Hybrid Rye
Sowing hybrid rye - Information about seed rates, seed dates and soil preparation
The grain of rye is used both for food and as a renewable raw material. Since the 1980s, hybrid rye varieties have been bred more because they have better disease resistance and higher yields compared to conventional rye. KWS has compiled the most important information about sowing hybrid rye for you.
What is the right seed rate for hybrid rye?
Depending on the location and thousand grain weight (about 28 to 40 g), the seed quantity is between 90 and 180 kilograms per hectare. For hybrid varieties, the amount of sowing can be reduced by about 20 percent. Generally, with unfavorable conditions and later sowing, an increase in the amount of sowing by ten percent makes sense.
Sowing hybrid rye has a seed density between 150 and 250 germinable grains/m². Depending on the soil condition and sowing date, the maximum economic yield is reached between 170 and 200 germinable grains/m².
In conventional rye, a seed intensity of 180 to 300 germinable grains/m² is recommended.
KWS supports you with the right tool so that you too can find the right sowing rate for the cultivation of hybrid rye on your land: Calculate quickly and uncomplicated your sowing intensity and the required amount of seed.
What are the habitat demands of hybrid rye?
Due to its strong root system, rye grows well in most locations and climates and is one of the most resistant and robust cereals. The root structure is strong branched and the early growth phase allows rye to take advantage of winter humidity and survive dry phases.
Rye can germinate in low temperatures (1-2 °C) and growth begins at temperatures of 1-3 °C. This allows rye to continue its growth even in mild phases of winter and to regenerate quickly after winter's end. It has the highest frost resistance of all cereals and survives frosts up to - 25 °C.
Rye can be grown on all soils, with lower requirements for nurtients than other cereals crops. Due to its low demands, especially the low water demand in the main vegetation period, rye can also thrive on light and sandy soils.
How to prepare the soil for sowing hybrid rye?
Rye places the highest requirements on the seed bed of all cereals. Soil tillage should be carried out in as dry soil conditions as possible. If the seedbed is prepared when the soil is too moist, the seed is deposited irregularly and above all too deep. Poor starting conditions for plant development are the result.
Uncompressed locations are suitable for ploughless processes. After leaf crops or cereals, however, straw should be well incorporated. Ploughing can only meet these high quality requirements if it is performed with optimal workability. In addition, there must be sufficient time for the soil to be dropped. The shorter the time to sowing, the flatter it must be ploughed.
With ploughless tillage, the soil is processed a little deeper in a second passage (10 to 15 cm). This encourages stalking and removes lanes. If little crop residue is present and the arable land is in good condition, deeper or even further processing can also be avoided. Rogue cereals or rogue oilseed rape can then be eliminated with a total herbicide. After deeper tillage, the soil should settle well again and be re-fortified by consistent reeling until sowing of the rye.
What is the right sowing time for hybrid rye?
Timely sowing results in sufficient planting in the fall. Hybrid rye can then go into winter well developed with two to four strong shoots. Later sowing tends to result in less weeds in the autumn, but also increases the risk of yield losses due to insufficient pre-winter development.
Depending on the location, the date for sowing is between the end of August and mid-October. The main period for sowing is the days between September 7 and 24. Early seeding may not be suitable in the autumn depending on the location.
In principle, farmers should include their experience at the site in finding the right seeding time. External conditions ultimately influence the exact date for seeding.
What is the best drilling depth for hybrid rye?
When sowing, the drilling depth must be observed. Modern sowing technology enables an increasingly precise drilling. The depth is 2-3 cm.
Ideally, thereafter, no heavy rainfall should follow. Proven row distances are 9-12 cm. This achieves the optimal distribution. It is also important to roll on in the spring when the soils are frozen in winter.
