Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Christopher Rogers, USDA Agricultural Research Service; and Dr. Dave Bjorneberg, USDA Northwest Irrigation & Soil Research
Additional Funding Sources
Research was supported in part by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, number P20GM103408.
Presentation Date
7-15-2026
Abstract
Idaho is one of the top dairy-producing states, requiring forage systems that balance on-farm needs with environmental priorities. Introduction of new winter cereal forage rotations [i.e., hybrid rye (Secale cereale)] may improve nutrient use efficiency, protect soil, and utilize winter precipitation to provide spring forage. Research was conducted to assess the potential of hybrid rye compared to a commonly grown forage, [triticale (× Triticosecale)], across four historical nutrient-management treatments at two harvest stages. Biomass was calculated on a dry matter basis and converted to kg/ha. Hybrid rye biomass production did not differ from that of triticale under previous management practices, but previous manure significantly increased biomass yield compared to synthetic fertilizer. These findings provide an initial indication of hybrid rye’s yield potential and provide evidence that historical manure applications can have long-term impacts on spring forage production.
Previous Soil Environment Impacts Biomass Yield of Winter Rye and Triticale
Idaho is one of the top dairy-producing states, requiring forage systems that balance on-farm needs with environmental priorities. Introduction of new winter cereal forage rotations [i.e., hybrid rye (Secale cereale)] may improve nutrient use efficiency, protect soil, and utilize winter precipitation to provide spring forage. Research was conducted to assess the potential of hybrid rye compared to a commonly grown forage, [triticale (× Triticosecale)], across four historical nutrient-management treatments at two harvest stages. Biomass was calculated on a dry matter basis and converted to kg/ha. Hybrid rye biomass production did not differ from that of triticale under previous management practices, but previous manure significantly increased biomass yield compared to synthetic fertilizer. These findings provide an initial indication of hybrid rye’s yield potential and provide evidence that historical manure applications can have long-term impacts on spring forage production.