RyeGrass (Lolium multiflorum)
Ryegrass is adapted to a variety of soil types, pH, temperatures and can be selected for disease resistance. Through plant breeding and selection, annual ryegrass has become a highly valued and productive cool-season forage (Blount and Prine, 2000).
Two species of ryegrass grow in the United States: perennials and annuals. Annual ryegrass has a height of 2 to 5 feet. Grass can be identified by the deep root system, erect culm, and glabrous leaves, and spike inflorescence (See picture). The inflorescence could have over 40 sessile spikelets arranged alternately, with over ten fertile per spikelet. Various cultivars respond differently to their environments which affects nutrient uptake, growth, and disease resistance.
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Table 1. Ryegrass Characteristics |
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Digestibility |
High over 65% |
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Crude Protein |
High |
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Palatability |
High |
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Grazing |
Tolerant |
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Uses |
Grazing, haylage, silage |
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Pounds per acre |
20-30 |
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pH Requirement |
5.5-6.0 |
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Harvest |
every 30 days |
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Tons per acre |
2-4 |
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Germination time |
7 days |
Cultivars
There are diploids and tetraploid cultivars. Tetraploid cultivars and may have some yield advantage to diploids. Two high yielding tetraploid ryegrass cultivars are “Big Daddy” (1995) and “Jumbo” (2000), recently released by the UF/IFAS Ryegrass Breeding Program.
UF/IFAS Recommended Varieties in 2017
Attain (released by UF/IFAS), Big Boss (released by UF/ IFAS), Diamond T, Earlyploid (released by UF/IFAS), Flying A, Jumbo (released by UF/IFAS), Marshall (susceptible to rust and gray leaf spot), Maximus, Nelson, Prine (released by UF/IFAS), TAMTBO, and Tetrastar.
Hardee County Trial Results
Eight ryegrass cultivars were evaluated in Hardee County to determine suitability for farmers in Central Florida. The results are available in Table 2. The varieties with a score of A had the best performance in growth, appearance, health, vigor, and height and are a suggested alternative to grow in Central Florida during the cold season when summer forage is going dormant. This forage may be planted in the fall (October to November) and needs to be established before the temperature drops. The cultivars of ryegrass Earlyploid and Big Boss get the highest plant height and health vigor.
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Table 2. Cool Season Ryegrass Forages Evaluation in Hardee County |
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Cultivar |
Health and vigor Score (A Excellent, B Fair, C Not Recommended) |
Plant Height Mowed Inches |
Plant Height Mowed (cm) |
Plant Height Not Mowed Inches |
Plant Height Not Mowed (cm) |
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Earlyploid Ryegrass |
A |
12.5 |
31.75 |
9.5 |
24.13 |
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Big Boss Ryegrass |
A |
11 |
27.94 |
10.5 |
26.67 |
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Prine RyeGrass |
A |
11.5 |
29.21 |
7 |
17.78 |
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Tamtbo Ryegrass |
A |
5.5 |
13.97 |
8.5 |
21.59 |
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Jumbo Ryegrass |
B |
7 |
17.78 |
7 |
17.78 |
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Attain Ryegrass |
A |
9.5 |
24.13 |
9.5 |
24.13 |
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Florilina Ryegrass |
A |
7 |
17.78 |
9.5 |
24.13 |
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Common Gulf Annnual Rye Grass |
C |
3 |
7.62 |
3 |
7.62 |
References
A. R. Blount and G. M. Prine (2000). Annual Ryegrass. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AG/AG10400.pdf
A. R. Blount, M. Wallau, E. Rios, J. M. B. Vendramini, J. C. B. Dubeux, Md. A. Babar, K. E. Kenworthy, and K. H. (2017) Cool-Season Forage Variety Recommendations for Florida
D. L. Wright, C. Mackowiak, and A.Blount (2017). Cover Crops
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AA/AA21700.pdf
Y.C. Newman, D.W. Wright, C. Mackowiak, J.M.S. Scholberg, and C.M. Cherr (2014). Benefits of Cover Crops for Soil Health. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AG/AG27700.pdf
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