This project introduces the regenerative farming technique of Pasture Cropping (Overseeding winter rye) in the Netherlands, whereby winter rye (Secale cereale) (with or without winter peas) is sown in herb-rich or regular grassland without destroying the existing vegetation. This system combines annual grain or animal feed production with permanent grassland cover, resulting in increased ground cover during the winter, more photosynthesis, better nutrient cycling and more active soil life. The cultivation can also be seen as a climate adaptation measure to ensure sufficient roughage in a climate with increasingly dry and hot summers, with winter cultivation and continuous cover, thereby strengthening the structure and moisture retention capacity of the soil.
Pasture cropping reduces weed pressure, limits nitrogen leaching and extends the growing season of the plot by using warm season and cold season plants on the same plot at different times, thereby sequestering more carbon per hectare. In the spring, you have a cut of leaf rye for whole plant silage (GPS) or for large bales. After the rye harvest, the grassland recovers completely. The technique promotes soil structure, water infiltration and carbon sequestration, and utilises production area without additional inputs. The practice is used in Australia, among other places, and is innovative in Europe. In this project, it is being tested on both herb-rich and conventional grassland, broadening its applicability. Through monitoring ecological and agronomic indicators, we aim to demonstrate the potential for sustainable, robust agricultural systems.