Organic Dual-Use Perennial Grain Crops: Pathways to Profitability and Soil Health
Project Director
Steve W. Culman
Year Funded
2019
Award Number
2019-51300-30255
Funded Institution
Ohio State University
Grant Program
OREI (Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative)
USDA NIFA Report
Project Overview
Perennial grain crops such as Kernza and perennial wheat offer soil health advantages over annual grains by forming deeper, longer-lived root systems and minimizing tillage. Kernza grain yields decline sharply in the second and third year as weed pressure increases, but the crop also provides harvestable forage that can enhance economic returns.
Researchers conducted three-year field trials at nine sites across North America to evaluate Kernza as a dual use perennial grain and forage crop and compared different forage harvest schedules. Additional trials included comparisons of soil health under Kernza vs annual wheat, interseeding clover into Kernza for N and weed suppression, on-farm grazing trials, and an economic analysis. The project provided seeds and technical assistance for on-farm Kernza trials and collaborated with local millers, bakers, and brewers to develop marketable Kernza products.
Farmer Takeaways
(1) Adding a perennial grain to the rotation improves soil health by maintaining a higher biomass and longer duration of roots and by reducing the need for tillage.
(2) Growing Kernza for both grain and forage can make the crop economically viable, especially for crop-livestock integrated system.
(3) Cutting forage in summer (after grain harvest) and fall gives greatest yields and total feed value; spring forage harvest (before grain set) reduces grain yield.
(4) Frost seeding red clover into Kernza reduces weeds and enhances forage yield and quality.
(5) Experimental wheat lines require more breeding and selection for perennial production.
Project Outputs
Culman, S., Pinto, P., Pugliese, J., Crews, T., DeHaan, L., Jungers, J., Larsen, J., Ryan, M., Schipanski, M., Sulc, M., Wayman, S., Wiedenhoeft, M., Stoltenberg, D., & Picasso, V. (2023). Forage harvest management impacts “Kernza” intermediate wheatgrass productivity across North America. Agronomy Journal, 115(5), 2424–2438.
Menalled, U. D., Pelzer, C. J., DiTommaso, A., & Ryan, M. R. (2023). Effect of multi-tactic weed management on weed suppression and yield in the establishment year of intermediate wheatgrass. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 6(4), e20426.
Law, E. P., Wayman, S., Pelzer, C. J., Culman, S. W., Gómez, M. I., DiTommaso, A., & Ryan, M. R. (2022). Multi-Criteria Assessment of the Economic and Environmental Sustainability Characteristics of Intermediate Wheatgrass Grown as a Dual-Purpose Grain and Forage Crop. Sustainability, 14(6), 3548.
Law, E. P., Wayman, S., Pelzer, C. J., DiTommaso, A., & Ryan, M. R. (2022). Intercropping red clover with intermediate wheatgrass suppresses weeds without reducing grain yield. Agronomy Journal, 114(1), 700–716.
Heineck, G. C., Schlautman, B., Law, E. P., Ryan, M. R., Zimbric, J. W., Picasso, V., Stoltenberg, D. E., Sheaffer, C. C., & Jungers, J. M. (2022). Intermediate wheatgrass seed size and moisture dynamics inform grain harvest timing. Crop Science, 62(1), 410–424.