Researchers at the University of Alberta are studying perennial grains, including perennial Rye, and how they can benefit the environment.
Most crops in Western Canada are perennials like wheat, canola or barley. Therefore, cultivating perennial plants is a new idea, according Guillermo Hernandez Ramirez (a soil scientist at the university’s faculty of agricultural life and environmental sciences).
Ramirez is co-author of a U of A research published in this year. It found that perennial rye absorbs carbon dioxide and mitigates other greenhouse gases.
Ramirez explained to CBC that the proposal was to offer an alternative to this land and plant perennial grains. These are seeded once and then harvested over many, continuous years. Edmonton AMFriday
Ramirez said that this is an innovative way to cultivate, harvest, and grow the land. Agricultural research in the past has mainly been focused on annual crops.
He stated, “So now, we are beginning to do our homework and learn how to manage perennial grains so we can also see the same benefits.”
Ramirez and his colleagues studied perennial rye to determine its environmental benefits, such as controlling soil erosion and optimizing water use.
Ramirez said that these perennial grains are capable of removing CO2 from our atmosphere and mitigating all greenhouse gases. Ramirez added that this allows the plant to have an extended growing season, which runs from April through October.
6:40Find out why some farmers may want perennial crops in their seeding plans
Researchers from the University of Alberta believe there are good reasons for farmers not to use perennial crops as they do with gardeners. Guillermo Hernandez Ramirez is one of the coauthors of a new study about perennial rye. 6:40
What does this mean in terms of farming?
Perennial crops can be a practical investment for farmers as they eliminate the stress and hassle of seeding and preparing the land.
Ramirez stated that even though crop yields are lower compared to the annual version of the grain, the overall cost is lower.
“You don’t have to buy seed every year, and they use fertilizer much more efficiently,” he stated. He also said that perennial grain crops require the exact same amount of water as those grown annually.
Ramirez’s team is currently working with breeders to improve the perennial rye’s productivity.
Ramirez stated that the next steps in the research process will focus on improving winter survival and managing diseases in perennial grains.
He said, “If we can identify the risk and are able address and figure out how these perennial grains can be managed, then we can help farmers gradually adopt them into the future.”
Ramirez and his team started the project four years back when they received approximately $1 million in federal funding.
He stated that the province will now test perennial wheat.
“All around the world there’s a shift to be in able to cultivate perennial crops.”
