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GrassesPerennial Ryegrasses
Perennial n - A plant that continues its growth for at least three years
Perennial ryegrass is the most widely used pasture grass in New Zealand. This is a reflection of its ease of establishment and management, adaptability to a range of fertility and environment conditions and compatibility with white clover and other pasture species. Growth starts at an air temperature of 5°C, is at an optimum at 18°C, and ceases at 30°C. This means that growth is poor in hot, dry, summers such as those frequently experienced in the east of both islands.
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Italian Ryegrasses
Italian adj - Of Italy
Italian ryegrasses are annuals, with erect growth form, large leaves and few tillers, that are sown in autumn to produce high quality, cool season feed. They may be direct drilled, or sown into high fertility, cultivated seedbeds, at 20 - 25 Kg / Ha for diploids and up to 30 Kg / Ha for the larger seed tetraploids. Some of these may persist for two to three years under ideal conditions. The ‘Westerwold’ types are true annuals that do not persist for more than a year without reseeding. Italian ryegrasses are susceptible to grass grub, porina and Argentine Stem Weevil, so delaying sowing until after Argentine Stem Weevil egg laying is recommended.
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Hybrid Ryegrasses
Hybrid n - An animal or plant resulting from a cross between two different types of animal or plant
Hybrid ryegrasses are bred from perennial and Italian ryegrasses. The distinction between hybrids and perennials is not always clear and is dependent on the level of perennial ryegrass in the hybrid.
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Annual Ryegrasses
Annual adj - A Plant that completes its life cycle in one year
Annual ryegrasses are a fast establishing, winter active ryegrass. They are most commonly sown as a high quality, short-term winter crop, to provide multiple grazings in winter and spring. Annual ryegrass has little persistence, and is generally used for a 6 - 8 month winter crop prior to sowing a summer crop. Including annual ryegrass in a permanent pasture seed mix is not generally recommended. Annual ryegrasses tend to die out, allowing weeds to take over. They also establish rapidly and compete strongly with perennial species.
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Cocksfoot
Cocksfoot n - Genus of dryland grass
Cocksfoot is a bluish-green perennial grass with extremely flattened tillers. It is commonly sown in a pasture mix on moderate fertility soils, on dryland hills or flats. In summer or dry environments it is the most persistent perennial grass available. Cultivar differences are related to tiller density and size, with the more prostrate, dense types suitable for set-stocking with sheep and hard rotational grazing. The more erect, traditional types are suitable for rotational grazing on lowland pastures, particularly by cattle.
Established cocksfoot is tolerant of grass grub and Argentine stem weevil but slow growth in winter can increase susceptibility to infection by foliar fungal diseases, particularly in older cultivars. Cocksfoot is endophyte free but forage quality and palatability can be low if pastures are allowed to become Cocksfoot dominant, or produce excessive seed heads. Cocksfoot is drought tolerant because its root mass is very competitive for soil moisture, and it out-competes many other species, including white clover. Cocksfoot pastures can therefore become very nitrogen deficient due to the absence of clover. This reduces palatability and production but can be improved by applying nitrogen fertiliser, usually at rates higher than those used for perennial ryegrass.
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Brome
Brome n - Genus of dryland grass
Brome grasses are perennial plant species suited to free draining soils of moderate to high fertility, particularly in lower rainfall areas. They do not persist well on poorly drained soils. They are palatable, including their seed heads, and offer good quality feed and persistence. Bromes are slower than ryegrass to establish and should be sown in warm conditions (late summer/early autumn or spring), into a well consolidated seedbed.
Brome grasses are all quite different species (not just different cultivars). They range from the erect prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii) which is the least persistent and best suited to rotational grazing, and medium erect pasture brome (Bromus valdivianus), to finer leaved grazing brome (Bromus stamineus) which is most suited to set stocking. Brome grasses do not contain endophyte.
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Phalaris
Phalaris n - A large tillered, blue-green perennial grass with a Mediterranean origin
Phalaris has a Mediterranean origin which means it has excellent winter and spring production, but it becomes vegetatively dormant in drought conditions. It is a rhizomatous grass that requires soils of moderate to high fertility and is well adapted to wet winters and dry summers.
Phalaris withstands hard grazing and treading, and once established, has excellent resistance to grass grub and other pasture pests. It can withstand severe drought, and although autumn recovery is slower than for a tall fescue, it will continue growing for longer into the cool season. Under irrigation, production will continue through summer and autumn.
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Fescue
Fescue n - A pasture and lawn grass with stiff narrow leaves
Tall fescue produces deep roots and a significantly larger root mass than perennial ryegrass, so is more drought tolerant. It has a similar dark green colour to ryegrass, with coarse, hairless leaves. It is suited to high fertility soils, and can cope with heavier soils than ryegrass. It can also withstand acid, alkaline and water logged soils.
Tall fescue should be used as a specialist summer pasture that withstands more extreme conditions than perennial ryegrass and is faster to recover after drought. It is usually sown as the sole grass (with legumes) at 15 - 20 Kg / Ha, preferably in spring or early autumn (when soil temperature is above 10°C). It is slow to establish and slow root growth make the young plants susceptible to ‘pulling’ in their first year, therefore light, quick grazing is recommended.
The mature plant is resistant to grass grub and Argentine Stem Weevil, but insecticide and fungicide may be required at establishment. Tall fescue requires frequent rotational grazing with spring management aimed at minimising seed head production to encourage tillering. Tall fescue should not be set stocked for long periods because grazing below 30 - 40 mm reduces its tillering capacity. It should not be sown with ryegrass, but red, Caucasian and white clovers, cocksfoot and Phalaris are suitable companion species. Tall fescue cultivars vary in flowering time and tiller density. Traditional types are larger and have more broad leaves than perennial ryegrass, while some fine leaved, dense types can withstand closer grazing.
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Timothy
Timothy n - Timothy is a late flowering, prolifically tillered grass
Timothy grass is a late flowering, prolifically tillered grass with very high spring and summer production, under rotational grazing systems. Timothy has the highest quality of New Zealand temperate grass species, making it an important component of a pasture mix. Given that Timothy produces most of its production in the spring and summer it is best suited to reliable summer rainfall areas, or under irrigation.
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Please visit our Troubleshooting section for more information on weeds, insects and diseases that could affect your pasture this season.
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