Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) (annual ryegrass)

Characteristics

• Yield based on 2 harvests/season
• Seeds/pound: 227,000
• Seeding rate: 15-20 lbs pure live seed/acre
• Seeding date: early spring
• May survive winter in mixture with alfalfa if consistent snow cover
• Green manure or short-term cover crop

Advantages

• very good quality possible
• easy to establish, rapid growth rate

Concerns

• not a perennial crop in NYS, will not persist
• poor drought and heat tolerance
• not well suited to poorly-drained soils

More information

• USDA Plant Profile
• Forage Fact Sheet (PA)
• Forage Fact Sheet (OR)
• Italian ryegrass seed head
• Annual ryegrass (Noble)