Why plant annual ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass prefers regions where climates consist of moderate summers and cool winters. For all its pickiness, however, perennial ryegrass demonstrates incredibly rapid germination and seedling growth, germinating in five to 14 days. Its growth process is one you can boost by adhering to the right planting methods. Whereas Kentucky bluegrass is a rhizome-forming grass, ryegrass is a bunchgrass, and it has a rather shallow root system. Despite this, it manages to form a very dense sod that germinates quickly but spreads slowly.

To begin, do a soil test. Ryegrass flourishes in a soil pH of 5. Prepare your seedbed at least six months before the expected planting date to make sure any soil amendments you add have time to react. Amendments should have organic fertilizer high in nitrogen content. Like many other perennial cool-season grasses, the seeds of ryegrass go through several growing points of initiation and induction.

Seeds use the time below-ground, for example, during the months of September to early March to gather and cultivate energy. Seeds should be sown at about one-fourth to half-an-inch deep within the soil using standard lawn spreader or even a grain drill.

Aerial Seeding Ryegrass with Aircraft. Dormant Seeding — is done after the field has frozen for the winter. Once thaw arrives, the heaving action of the topsoil will work the annual ryegrass seed into the soil, enhancing its viability for growth. With dormant seeding, it may be advisable to allow the annual ryegrass additional time to grow in the spring, before killing it with herbicide. For this reason, planting soybeans after a dormant seeded field makes more sense.

If not, winter annuals will compete aggressively with the cover crop the following spring. Nitrogen — Nitrogen will stimulate annual ryegrass fall growth. This is especially important if seeding in October.

However, if manure has been applied in the last years or the field has been in continuous no-till for years, and seeded timely, the fall nitrogen may not be needed.

Expected growth — If properly seeded instructions above followed one can expect to see 2- inches of top growth before a hard killing frost. Perennial ryegrass may be a smarter choice if persistence is important. Otherwise, plan on incorporating the cover within a year of planting.

Annual ryegrass is a relatively late maturing plant, so in vineyards it may use excessive water and N if left too long. You can kill annual ryegrass mechanically by disking or plowing, preferably during early bloom usually in spring , before it sets seed , Mowing may not kill ryegrass completely To minimize N tie-up as the biomass decomposes, wait a few weeks after incorporation before you seed a subsequent crop.

Growing ryegrass with a legume such as red clover would minimize the N concern. Weed potential. Ryegrass can become a weed if allowed to set seed It often volunteers in vineyards or orchards if there is high fertility and may require regular mowing to reduce competition with vines A local weed management specialist may be able to recommend a herbicide that can reduce ryegrass germination if the cover is becoming a weed in perennial grass stands. Chlorsulfuron is sometimes used for this purpose in California Insect and other pests.

Ryegrass attracts few insect pests and generally can help reduce insect pest levels in legume stands and many vegetable crops, such as root crops and brassicas. Rodents are occasionally a problem when ryegrass is used as a living mulch. Rust occasionally can be a problem with annual ryegrasses, especially crown and brown stem rust. Look for resistant, regionally adapted varieties. Annual ryegrass also can host high densities of pin nematodes Paratylenchus projectus and bromegrass mosaic virus, which plant-parasitic nematodes Xiphinema spp.

Ryegrass provides a good grazing option that can extend the grazing season for almost any kind of livestock. Although very small-seeded, ryegrass does not tiller heavily, so seed at high rates if you expect a rye grass cover crop also to serve as a pasture. Some varieties tolerate heat fairly well and can persist for several years under sound grazing practices that allow the grass to reseed.

As a hay option, annual ryegrass can provide 2, to 6, pounds of dry forage per acre, depending on moisture and fertility levels For highest quality hay, cut no later than the early bloom stage and consider growing it with a legume.

When using ryegrass for grass waterways and conservation strips on highly erodible slopes, applying 3, to 4, pounds of straw per acre after seeding at medium to high rates can help keep soil and seed in place until the stand establishes When planted in mixtures with small grains on a prepared seedbed, nitrogen can be applied at or before planting.

However, when overseeded on a warm-season grass sod, application of nitrogen can be delayed until after frost has reduced the competition from the warm-season grass. Nitrogen can be applied in split applications, while any phosphorus or potassium recommended by soil test should be applied at planting.

Split application of the nitrogen generally leads to a more uniform distribution of forage production. Application of topdress fertilizer to annual ryegrass in the one to two leaf stage should be avoided if possible to prevent salt damage to the seedling. Annual ryegrass has responded to nitrogen rates of up to lb. However, due to the shorter growing season and lower rainfall in Oklahoma and north Texas, to lb.

Annual ryegrass is tolerant of frequent and intense grazing. When planted in mixes with small grains the small grain component should be "grazed out" to release the ryegrass. Recommended grazing management is to not graze shorter than two to three inches and allow a recovery period of three to four weeks during the active spring regrowth period.

Remember that growth of the annual ryegrass will vary between regions, during the growing season, and from year to year. Be flexible in your stocking rate, either by varying animal numbers or feeding supplemental hay. A strategy to use with cows is to limit graze the annual ryegrass pastures. Dry cows can be allowed access to the pasture every third day and wet cows every second day. The ability of annual ryegrass to reseed itself is evident as we drive down the roads or see it in pastures that have not been recently seeded.