Post
Intermediate wheatgrass as a dual use crop for grain and grazing
Main Menu
Long-rooted perennial grain crops access nutrients better than annual crops, keep soil in place, and channel water into the soil profile, preventing nitrogen fertilizer leaching into groundwater, and soil erosion and water runoff into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
The world faces significant challenges in meeting the basic nutritional needs of over 9 billion people by 2040, especially with our limited land and water resources. As the population increases and the climate changes, creating a more resilient and productive agricultural system will further strain our finite water supplies.
Nitrogen fertilizers are crucial in growing staple annual crops like corn, soybeans, rice, and wheat. However, nitrate—a highly mobile form of nitrogen—can pollute rivers, lakes, oceans, and drinking water sources by easily leaching from the soil into groundwater and via rain runoff. Many countries, including the United States, Europe, South Korea, and India, experience nitrate groundwater pollution. It is the most common contaminant in public and private water systems in agricultural regions of the US Midwest. Additionally, nitrogen and other excess agricultural nutrients carried by waterways contribute to over 400 marine dead zones worldwide each year.
High nitrate levels in drinking water are associated with increased health risks for infants and certain cancers, leading water authorities to remove these contaminants at a significant cost to communities. Ocean dead zones can also destroy marine fisheries and coastal communities. Farmers need practical and economically sound alternatives to annual row crops and traditional cropping systems.
Introducing perennial grains into agricultural systems could improve the sustainability of food production while increasing water quality benefits. Perennial grain roots act as a natural filter, efficiently utilizing nutrients in the soil and significantly lowering the risk of drinking water contamination.
Another key feature of perennial grains is their ability to grow continuously year-round. They establish deep roots undisturbed by plowing, holding the soil in place, channeling water deep into the soil, and preventing runoff and soil erosion. In regions with erratic rainfall and extreme weather—with intense storms followed by dry spells and even drought—these resilient crops can capture and store more water in the soil, enhancing its availability during drier weather. Perennial grains empower farmers to depend less on the unpredictable timing of rains, improving their chances for a successful harvest.
Studies have found that the root uptake of Kernza® perennial grain can reduce nitrate fertilizer levels in soil water by over 99% compared to corn and 96% to soybeans, bringing nitrate concentrations far below the safe drinking water threshold. Kernza® perennial grain also reduces soil erosion by 68% and surface nutrient runoff by about 30% compared to annual winter wheat.
