Energy crop specialists, KWS has introduced the first hybrid rye variety specifically targeted at UK biogas producers.

Harvested as a wholecrop cereal, the plant breeder claims that KWS Magnifico, is capable of providing 30-35t/ha yields of high, 30-35% dry matter forage and just under 4000 cubic meters of methane/ha.

Hybrid rye is highly robust and will cope with most situations, especially drought prone conditions,” says commercial manager, Julie Goult.  Its extreme winter hardiness also means it is ideal for the harshest of UK situations.

However, highest yields come from regions with higher rainfall and heavier soils and here hybrid rye is a good biogas crop alternative for use where maize is not tenable.

Ms Goult points out that hybrid rye is a useful year-round substrate for the biogas plant. “It balances the high gaseous productivity of energy beet or maize, providing an alternative feed source for bacteria, stabilising methane output.”

In terms of gas output, wholecrop rye, while lower yielding than energy maize per ha, provides a similar methane yield of around 108 cubic meters per tonne of DM.

Best practice is to use 20-30% rye to 70-80% maize in the AD plant.  In areas where maize is not tenable, it could be used at higher inclusion rates alongside energy beet.

Agronomically, rye also fits well within an energy beet rotation.  It can be planted relatively late and we are testing the possibility that in some situations it could be taken early to allow second cropping with energy beet in the same year, providing a double biogas crop opportunity.

Ms Goult also points out that in parts of continental Europe, rye is harvested early in April or May prior to double-cropping land with short season maize, though the potential of this approach needs to be fully tested in the UK.

KWS Magnifico has been bred to produce higher forage yields hybrid rye grown for grain.  Maximum DM and subsequent biogas production comes from ensiling the crop at the milky ripe stage.

Leaving the crop to mature through June and cutting at this stage can double biogas yields compared to taking the crop at ear emergence. 

The crop is best sown at around 250 seeds sq meter until the end of October and utilises a maximum of 100kg/ha nitrogen.  Compared to rye grown for grain, just one fungicide and one PGR may be all that is required unless KWS Magnifico is cropped on heavy soils.

Biogas producers interested in KWS Magnifico should contact KWS UK Ltd on 01763 207300 for more details.

Table 1 - Hybrid Rye - Energy Potential

Source: KWS SAAT AG