Annual Ryegrass Cover Crop Helps Control Soybean Cyst Nematodes

Research shows planting annual ryegrass can disrupt the life cycle of the costly pest

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:11am

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A highly textured, abstract painting in muted greens, browns, and blues, featuring sweeping geometric shapes, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex life cycle of soybean cyst nematodes and how annual ryegrass cover crops can disrupt their patterns.A cover crop solution that disrupts the life cycle of a costly soybean pest, offering no-till farmers a sustainable alternative to chemical controls.Columbus Today

Recent studies in Ohio and Illinois have found that planting annual ryegrass as a cover crop can be an effective alternative method for controlling soybean cyst nematodes (SCN), a pest that can cost no-till farmers up to 15 bushels per acre in lost soybean yields. The research shows annual ryegrass is more effective than cereal rye in reducing nematode populations by disrupting their life cycle.

Why it matters

Soybean cyst nematodes are a major pest that can significantly impact yields for no-till farmers. Finding effective, sustainable solutions like cover cropping is crucial, as chemical nematode controls can be costly and have environmental drawbacks. This research provides hope for no-till growers looking to manage SCN through natural, regenerative practices.

The details

University of Illinois natural resources management educator Mike Plumer conducted a 2-year cover crop study and found that annual ryegrass plots had reduced the SCN count by more than 70% compared to soybean plots with no cover crop. Plumer also determined that annual ryegrass was 30-60% more effective than cereal rye in controlling the nematode parasite. Similar results were seen in 2 years of testing at Ohio State University, with more than a 50% drop in nematode populations in soybeans.

  • The University of Illinois study was conducted over 2 years.
  • The Ohio State University study also spanned 2 years.

The players

Mike Plumer

A natural resources management educator at the University of Illinois who conducted research on using annual ryegrass cover crops to control soybean cyst nematodes.

Ohio State University

A research institution that conducted studies showing annual ryegrass cover crops can reduce soybean cyst nematode populations by over 50%.

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The takeaway

This research provides a promising, sustainable solution for no-till farmers struggling with soybean cyst nematodes, a major pest that can significantly impact yields. By using annual ryegrass as a cover crop, growers may be able to naturally disrupt the nematode life cycle and reduce populations without relying on costly and environmentally questionable chemical controls.