Rye oh rye do we have a cereal crop in our vineyard?!

Rye was drilled (planted) in Autumn 2021 as a ‘cover crop’ due to its deep tap roots which help break-up and aerate the soil ready for the deep roots of our vines. It is all part of our sustainability drive to let nature work its magic instead of machines. As British farmers, we are working towards a Net Zero goal by 2040, and the vineyard is no exception!

What is Rye?

Rye is a cereal crop closely related to Wheat. It is used in flour, beer, bread, some whiskeys and even animal fodder. Its deep tap roots and versatile capabilities lend it to being an excellent cover crop, especially on poor ground and through the winter season.

What is a cover crop and why do farmers use them?

A cover crop is an alternative crop planted between seasons/crops for several reasons:

keeps the soil ‘covered’: [ploughed] fallow land (land which is ’empty’ or has nothing planted in it) can lead to more gases from the soil transferring into the atmosphere. A cover crop traps these elements in the soil while also allowing nutrients to re-enter the soil through their roots. Without a cover crop, nutrients are less easily absorbed so the soil quality can become poorer.

nourishes the soil: by planting an alternative crop between seasons, the land is given a rejuvenating break. A field which has been on a rotation of wheat and beans, for example, might be planted with an alternative crop such as mustard to break down the soil and create new tunnels unto the earth for nutrients and water. These tunnels are created by the cover crop roots which are in some cases deeper than the usual wheat and beans. When the standard crops are reintroduced the following year, the soil is richer, rejuvenated and broken down. Cover crops are like spa treatments: there are many different ones which serve different purposes for that particular soil and what a farmer wants to achieve with it.

Cover crop roots also help break down the soil without the extensive use of machinery which has its own environmental benefits such as encouraging worm populations who in turn help to break down soil.

By planting rye in the vineyard plot, we are achieving all of the above and blanketing the soil ready for its new crop to flourish!

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