Integrating Winter Annual Cereal Rye or Triticale into a Corn Forage Biofuel Production System.

Integrating cover crops into the corn (Zea mays L.) forage-production system could enhance growers’ profitability and improve ecosystem services.  Field plots were established at two locations in Michigan during 2012-14 to evaluate ethanol production, estimate carbon and energy balance, and the economics of corn forage plus cover crop, cropping systems.   In the 2012-13 crop cycle, the cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), and triticale (Triticale hexaploide Lart.), cover crops increased cropping system biomass yield by 44%, and total ethanol yield by 28% relative to the no-cover control. During the 2012-13 cycle, cover crops provided sufficient biomass to result in a profitable harvest as a biofuel feedstock.  However, following a harsh winter, such as that experienced in the 2013-14 cycle, cover crop yield was compromised to the point that harvest was not economically justified.  Incorporating cover crops into a corn forage cropping system increased total biomass and potential biofuel yield and generated a very favorable net ecosystem carbon and energy balance.