Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Characteristics

• Yield based on 3 harvests/season
• Seeds/pound: 227,000
• Seeding rate: 15-20 lbs pure live seed/acre
• Better suited to pasture
• Must be used in combination with other species
• Good for short-term stabilizing cover and for soil improvement

Advantages

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

Concerns

• no varieties have consistently persisted in NYS to-date
• poor drought and heat tolerance
• not well suited to poorly-drained soils
• poor shade tolerance

More information

• Forage Fact Sheet (PA)
• USDA Plant Guide
• Production Guide (WI)