Undersowing leys in cereals

Authors: Hansueli Dierauer, Tobias Gelencser

Problem: Dry periods after harvesting cereals increase the difficulty of sowing a new ley. The tradition of sowing in July/August can therefore be risky. 

Solution: Sowing a grass-clover ley into the cereal crop in March/April uses the residual soil moisture from winter for the establishment of the ley. In most cases, the sowing is successful. Under the shade of the cereal crop, the ley develops without becoming a competitor or interfering with the harvest. After removing the straw, the undersown ley quickly develops, forming a dense sward.

zenodo.org: Undersowing leys in cereals