Roller Crimping to Terminate Cereal Rye Cover Crop in Michigan

By Madelyn Celovsky and Korede Olugbenle

Seeding cereal rye cover crop

Successful roller crimping termination and maximum weed suppression require a consistent cover crop stand with adequate aboveground biomass. Here are some tips for maximizing cereal rye biomass to increase chances of success.

Seeding date - August-mid October. Though cereal rye can be seeded in Michigan through late November and successfully overwinter, early fall planting will maximize spring biomass.

Seeding method - Seeding with a drill is best, broadcast with incorporation can also work. It is not recommended to broadcast cereal rye without incorporation when planning on roller crimping as it can result in uneven emergence and a poor stand.

Seeding rate – Drill 45-60 lbs/Ac, broadcast with shallow incorporation 50-65 lbs/Ac. Though seeding rate has less influence on cover crop biomass than seeding date, you can sometimes compensate for late seeding, broadcast seeding, and less-than-ideal seeding conditions (e.g., dry fall) by increasing the seeding rate.