Italian Ryegrass

Lolium multiflorum         Italian Ryegrass Variety Chart
Italian ryegrass provides excellent quality forage for up to two years, depending on climate and available moisture. Due to its quick regrowth, very early development in spring, and a prolonged growing period in the fall, this species usually has greater overall productivity than other cool season grasses. When planted in the spring, Italian ryegrass will not go to seed in the first season. This results in high quality forage production without the low quality stems and seed heads during the first year.

Recently, Italian ryegrass has been recognized as the perfect rotation crop for plow down or emergency feed. Crops that follow a stand of Italian ryegrass also show higher yields, compared to other green manure crops.

 

As with perennial ryegrass, the tetraploid varieties of Italian ryegrasses have higher fresh yield, lower dry matter content, broader leaves, and are often more disease resistant, where as diploid varieties are more persistent and winter-hardy.