Annual or Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.)

Origin:  Europe

Use:  Grazing, silage, hay, wildlife

Plant Description

  • General:  Grows 2-3' tall; excellent spring production in overseeded situations
  • Life Span:  Annual
  • Growth Form:  Upright

Management

  • Seeding Rate:  20-30 lbs/A alone; 10-15 lbs/A in mixtures
  • Seedling Vigor:  Good-excellent
  • Planting Date:  September- November depending upon location
  • Planting Depth:  Broadcast to 1/4"
  • Grazing Tolerance:  Excellent
  • Desirable pH:  >5.8
  • Drainage Requirements:  Excellent tolerance of poor drainage
  • Soil Texture:  Sandy-heavy soils
  • Drought Tolerance:  Fair
  • Season of Use:  Most production from February-June but some fall production on clean-tilled land

General:

  • Annual ryegrass produces high quality forage and performs well when overseeded (alone or in mixtures) on warm season perennial pastures
  • Armyworms can be a problem on seedlings in the fall and rust can harm susceptible varieties


ID Features:

  • Leaves are dark and shiny and have smooth edges.
  • Annual ryegrass has large clasping auricles at the leaf collar and veins are not as prominent as those of tall fescue.