Title:

Crop Residue Management and Establishment Systems for Annual Ryegrass Seed Production

Objectives:

1. Develop low cost crop residue management and seeding practices for annual ryegrass seed production.
2. Determine the effects of crop residue management and seeding practices on establishment, growth, development, and yield of subsequent annual ryegrass seed crops.
3. Develop educational programs for producers and agricultural support industries to disseminate information produced by the study.

Investigators:

William C. Young III, Associate Professor
Extension Seed Production Specialist

Thomas G. Chastain, Associate Professor
Seed Production Physiology

Mark E. Mellbye, Associate Professor
District Extension Agent, Linn County

Personnel:

Bryon M. Quebbeman, Faculty Research Assistant
Carol J. Garbacik, Senior Faculty Research Assistant

Cooperators:

David Smith, Seed Grower, Shedd, OR
Jack Pimm, Seed Grower, Halsey, OR

Abstract:

Two on-farm annual ryegrass cropping systems studies evaluating nonburning options including, plowing and conventional seeding, no-till drilling, and volunteer crop establishment, in both full straw and straw removed (baled) conditions are continuing into their second crop year. The first year of an annual rye grass seeding density study was completed and reestablished for a second year at OSU's Hyslop Crop Science Farm. Preliminary results suggest cropping systems will affect stand density and that stand density does reduce seed yield potential when too dense. A site for a row spraying study has been prepared to investigate opportunities to adjust density in volunteer established annual ryegrass. Cooperative efforts with the OSU Department of Entomology are providing information on how slug populations are affected by cropping systems.

Justification:

Limited research on cropping systems for annual ryegrass has occurred. Low-cost production systems based on open field burning of post-harvest residue followed by no-till drilling to establish the subsequent crop have been very effective. Much of the Willamette Valley's annual ryegrass ground has been in a continuous annual production cycle based on open field burning followed by no-till drilling to establish the subsequent crop. Recently, however, restrictions on open field burning have resulted in less than one-third of the annual ryegrass acreage being burned. With large acreage unable to be burned most growers have resorted to flail chopping the full straw, plowing, and planting with conventional drill equipment. These changes have brought increases in production costs near the break-even price for most producers.