Ryegrass is an important forage crop that is highly productive and adaptable to a wide range of soil types. It produces highly nutritious foliage that enables grazing animals to maintain high intake levels and performance. Ryegrass establishes quickly, develops an extensive root system, and can compete well with other plants. It grows best in well-drained, fertile soils with a pH between 6.2-6.8. Sowing times vary by location but generally occur in spring or fall. Seedbed preparation is followed by broadcasting seed, with or without pre-soaking. The seed must maintain soil contact for establishment. Fertilizer and weed management, as well as grazing practices after establishment, are important to the

1. Rye grass
INTRODUCTION
Rye grass is of great importance in forage/livestock production; Ryegrass (Lolium
multiflorum L). It is very easy to establish, how it can be used and adapted on a wide range of soil
types. It is leafy grass that produce highly palatable forage that often exceeds 70% digestible dry
matter and 20% crude protein. These characteristics enable grazing animals to maintain
exceptionally high dry matter intake levels and result in outstanding animal performance.
Annual ryegrass is an outstanding winter annual forage grass that is highly productive. It
can be planted on a prepared seedbed, can be used as a winter cover crop and/or winter grazing
crop. The species is considered an annual, although in a few areas of the Pakistan, plants can live
for one and a half years or more, depending on variety and/type, planting date and climatic
conditions. Annual ryegrass is a fast-growing bunchgrass that produces several upright tillers from
each plant. It has clasping auricles and shiny leaves that generally reach around 8 to 12 inches in
length. Ungrazed plants can reach a height of 40 to 50 inches. Well-fertilized ryegrass foliage is a
lustrous green color except for the bases of plants, which are yellowish-green. Seedheads, which
normally first appear in April or May depending on geographical location, are a single spike and
spikelets are in an alternate arrangement on each spike. Seed are awned and there are 9 to 15 florets
in each spikelet. It establishes quickly (germination usually occurs within a week to ten days under
good conditions), develops an extensive fibrous root system and can be quite competitive with
other plants.
Ryegrass can survive in a wide range of soil and climatic conditions; however, it grows
best on well-drained, fertile soils. The first and most important agronomic and economic
investment in ryegrass production is a soil test. Phosphorus and potassium should be in the medium
range and the soil pH should be between 6.2 and 6.8 for optimum production and persistence.
When seeded with legumes, nitrogen is not that much required, while in pure stands, it requires a
sufficient amount of nitrogen. Use of high quality seed of a variety capable of producing and
persisting in an area is very important.

2. Cropping technology:
When to sow:
Sowing time may vary depending on climatic conditions of an area. In cooler areas
where temperature remains from 300
to 350
C sowing can be done from march till may and
from September till November. Farmers are encouraged to use meteorological indicators to
assist in determining when the best sowing are likely to occur.
Seedbed Preparation:
A prepared seedbed may range from a roughly disturbed soil after a tractor operation
to clear weeds, to a fully prepared seedbed that has been fallowed for moisture and nitrogen
accumulation and for weed control.
Sowing method:
Before sowing seed should be soaked in water kept in a cloth will enhance seed
germination and improve crop stand.
Broadcasting:
Dry sowing method: Mix seed with fertilizer and broadcast by hands, running the fluffing
harrow after the broadcast will throw some residue and soil over the seed, improving the
seedbed and increasing the likelihood of germination of the seeds.
Wet sowing method: In Wet sowing after seed bed preparation the field should be watered
and after sometime seed should be broadcast when the water settle down a bit so that the
seed doesn’t float over the water which can affect crop germination and uniformity ultimately.
Establishment
The seed must maintain close contact with wet soil for about three days to establish a
seedling. Sub-soil moisture will sustain the seedling until follow-up irrigations done. These
irrigations will also promote the development of secondary roots. This allows the crown of the
establishing grass to develop.
Pasture seed in the bottom of shallow tine furrows or small depressions (microsites or surface
pitting) in more roughly prepared seedbeds are more likely to establish seedlings because
they accumulate water and stay wetter for longer after rain.

3. Fertilizers
Fertilizers recommendation depends on availability of Nutrients in soil therefore it is
recommended to do a proper soil test before sowing of any crop. Normally 50 kg of
phosphorus and potash (subject to level of availability in soil) should be applied within one
growing season while Nitrogenous fertilizers should be applied at the rate of 60 to 100kg/acre
/cut.
Weeds
Weed can seriously compete with both the establishing and developing pasture
seedlings. Good cultural practices in the season before sowing (pre-cropping or fallow) will
help reduce the weed seed population in the pasture seedbed. Provided they do not interfere
with the pasture setting seed, slashing or light grazing may reduce the competition from
weeds.
After establishment most broadleaved weeds should be suppressed by a dense
vigorous growth of pasture. Although it is generally impractical to use herbicides for
broadleaved weed control a number are registered for this purpose. Care should be taken in
their selection to avoid killing useful pasture legumes. For further information on herbicide
selection consult your company agronomist.
Harvesting & Grazing management
If harvesting is manually then one should start first cut after 30 to 35 days after sowing
while for mechanical harvesting the time should 45 to 50 days.
The success of a pasture will depend on its grazing management in the first year. Do
not graze until follow-up rainfall allows seedlings to develop a strong root system and set
some seed, then graze lightly. Short periods of grazing are preferable to continuous stocking.
Ahmad Ali khan
Agronomist
Farm dynamics Pakistan.
03000555617