(Commonly described as: Lolium multiflorum, recently described as: Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot)

This is rapidly becoming the cover-crop of choice for producers throughout the Midwest .  As the name implies, this is a ryegrass that only lives for one year.  Annual ryegrass is easily established and can be seeded by either: drilling, broadcast and lightly incorporated, or aerial seeded in standing crops. This plant will provide increased: organic matter, soil structure, water infiltration, erosion control, soybean cysts control, and significantly higher crop yields during stress years.

Some times people confuse annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) with cereal rye (Secale cereale).  Just by looking at their names you can see the difference.  How they grow and can be utilized as a cover crop is also different.  Briefly, annual ryegrass as a finer and more extensive root system than cereal rye.  Cereal rye has more aboveground (or top growth) than annual ryegrass.    For more detailed information on the benefits and management of annual ryegrass, see the various publications listed.

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Annual Ryegrass - Build Soil While Increasing Yields