Annual ryegrass
Scientific Name: Lolium multiflorum
Life Cycle: Winter Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Min. Germination Temp.: 40F
Upright winter annual or weak perennial bunchgrass that grows 12-24 inches tall. Glossy leaves. Do not confuse with cereal rye.
Additional Resources
For more region specific information, each cover crop species can be found in the cover crop decision tool by name.
Annual ryegrass: Managing Cover Crops Profitably (SARE Handbook Series Book 9) by Andy Clark (2007, 3rd ed.)
Barley
Scientific Name: Hordeum vulgare
Life Cycle: Winter Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Min. Germination Temp.: 38F
Upright winter annual that grows 1 1/2 – 3 feet tall. Has hollow jointed stems with narrow, tapered leaves. Leaves are broader than those of most other grasses. Flower spikes appear bearded because of their long awns. Winter barley requires vernalization to produce grain; spring types do not.
Additional Resources
For more region specific information, each cover crop species can be found in the cover crop decision tool by name.
Barley: Managing Cover Crops Profitably (SARE Handbook Series Book 9) by Andy Clark (2007, 3rd ed.)
Cereal rye
Scientific Name: Secale cereale
Life Cycle: Cool Season Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 5.0-7.0
Min. Germination Temp.: 34F
Upright cool-season annual that grows 3-6 feet tall. Requires vernalization to head and produce seed. Makes a thick ground cover if planted in the spring. Do not confuse with annual ryegrass.
Additional Resources
For more region specific information, each cover crop species can be found in the cover crop decision tool by name.
Cereal rye: Managing Cover Crops Profitably (SARE Handbook Series Book 9) by Andy Clark (2007, 3rd ed.)
Millets
Japanese Millet
Scientific Name: Echinochloa spp.
Life Cycle: Summer Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 5.5-7.5
Min. Germination Temp.: 65F
Upright summer annual that grows 2-4 feet tall. Has thick stems and a more course appearance than other millets.
Pearl Millet
Scientific Name: Pennisetum glaucum
Life Cycle: Summer Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 5.5-7.5 Min.
Germination Temp.: 65F
Upright summer annual bunchgrass that grows 2-4 feet tall. Has broad, flat pointed leaves with serrated edges and cattail-like inflorescences.
Additional Resources
For more region specific information, each cover crop species can be found in the cover crop decision tool by name.
Oats
Scientific Name: Avena sativa
Life Cycle: Cool Season Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Min. Germination Temp.: 38F
Upright cool season annual that grows 2-5 feet tall. Has fibrous roots; hollow, straight stems; and narrow tapered leaves. Winter oat types are the least winter hardy of all the small grains, are not widely available, and require vernalization to head and produce seeds.
Additional Resources
For more region specific information, each cover crop species can be found in the cover crop decision tool by name.
Oats: Managing Cover Crops Profitably (SARE Handbook Series Book 9) by Andy Clark (2007, 3rd ed.)
Sorghum-sudangrass
Scientific Name: Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum bicolor var. Sudane
Life Cycle: Summer Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Min. Germination Temp.: 65 F
Upright summer annual that grows up to 8-12 feet tall. Leaves resemble corn.
Additional Resources
Sorghum-sudangrass: Managing Cover Crops Profitably (SARE Handbook Series Book 9) by Andy Clark (2007, 3rd ed.)
Sudangrass
Scientific Name: Sorghum bicolor
Life Cycle: Summer Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Min. Germination Temp.: 65 F
Upright summer annual that grows up to 8 feet tall. Leaves resemble corn.
Additional Resources
Teff
Scientific Name: Eragrostis tef
Life Cycle: Summer annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 4.5 - 8.0
Min. Germination Temp.: 65 F
This warm season annual grass grows 10-53 inches tall. Is often used for forage, but harvested for grain in Ethiopia. Has a large crown, many tillers, and a shallow diverse root system.
Additional Resources
Triticale
Scientific Name: xTriticosecale
Life Cycle: Winter Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 5.2 - 7.2
Min. Germination Temp.: 38 F
Upright winter annual that grows 3-5 feet tall. Resembles its parents: wheat and winter cereal rye. Winter triticale requires vernalization to head and produce seed.
Additional Resources
Brassicas & mustards overview: Managing Cover Crops Profitably (SARE Handbook Series Book 9) by Andy Clark (2007, 3rd ed.)
Wheat
Scientific Name: Triticum aestivum
Life Cycle: Winter Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
Min. Germination Temp.: 38 F
Upright winter annual that grows 3-4 feet tall. Has flat, narrow leaves and often tillers. Winter wheat requires vernalization to produce grain.
Additional Resources
Wheat: Managing Cover Crops Profitably (SARE Handbook Series Book 9) by Andy Clark (2007, 3rd ed.)
