Perennial ryegrass
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Pasture type and use | Perennial grass, growing mainly in winter and spring. Dryland or irrigated for grazing, hay and silage. |
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Area of adaptation | Central, Southern and Northern Tablelands, South West Slopes, coastal and irrigation areas. |
Min. average annual rainfall | 700 mm (southern NSW) to 800 mm (northern NSW), and 900 mm (coastal). |
Advantages |
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Disadvantages |
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Soil requirements | Best suited to highly fertile soils, but will persist on lower-fertility soils as well. |
Varieties | Select varieties on the basis of maturity, plant type, rust resistance, endophyte level, and local production and persistence data (where available).
* Denotes that this variety is protected by Plant Breeder’s Rights.
* Denotes that this variety is protected by Plant Breeder’s Rights. See Agnote DPI-283 Short-term ryegrass for hybrid varieties that have a high percentage of perennial ryegrass (i.e. Grasslands Impact, Grasslands Supreme, Horizon, Grasslands Greenstone, Banquet). |
Sowing rates: | |
- as only species | 3–20 kg/ha |
- in mixtures | 2–6 kg/ha |
Sowing time | Autumn/early winter (March to June). In high-altitude high-rainfall tableland districts, spring sowings (August to September) can be attempted. |
Companion species | Legumes (white, red and subterranean clovers, lucerne, lotus) and other temperate grasses (fescue, phalaris, cocksfoot). |
Inoculation | N/A |
Major nutrient deficiencies | Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. |
Main insect pests | Ryegrass pastures are sometimes seriously damaged by blue oat mite, redlegged earth mite, field crickets, pasture scarabs, army worms, slugs and snails. |
Main diseases | Stem rust and flag rust are the main diseases, although other diseases can occur, including downy mildew and leaf spot. |
Management | Yield, persistence and feed quality are optimised by grazing when ryegrass reaches the 3-leaf stage, grazing down to 5 cm high.
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Livestock disorders of particular note | Ryegrass staggers, endophyte ill thrift, ergot of rye poisoning. |
Additional tips | Varieties not listed above and available are listed in the Agnote referred to below. |
Further information | Agnote DPI-234 New pasture grass and legume varieties.
Agfact P2.3.9 Endophytes of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue |
Advice on livestock health disorders was provided by Dr Chris Bourke, Principal Research Scientist, NSW Agriculture, Orange. His contribution is gratefully acknowledged.