Perennial ryegrass

Introduction

• Scientific name: Lolium perenne
• Is a prolific tillering, compact grass with dark green leaves that are shiny underneath and folded in the sheath.
• Shallow rooted and the inflorescence is spike.

Production and management

• Annual dry matter yields vary from 10-25 t DM/ha under high fertility conditions.
• Digestibility is typically 75-85%.
• Average green matter yield varies from 23 t/ha with 5% DM and 62 t/ha with 12% DM in sindhupalchowk and Dolakha district respectively.
• Winter-active grass with a flush of production in early spring
• Starts flushing from snow melting in Nepal and production continues up to August/ September.
• Usually growth is poor in hot, dry summers, but recovery well when climate is favorable.
• Compete with other grass species if sowing rate is high.
• Average sowing rate in mixture could be 10-20 Kg/ha.
• Requires 10 t FYM along with 100:60:40 kg NPK/ha to get good DM yield.

Environment

• Adapted to medium to high fertility soils that are well drained.
• Doesn’t perform well in areas with extremely cold winters or with hot or dry summers.
• Growth starts at 5⁰C and reaches an optimum at 18⁰
• Grass doesn’t die of cold and frost.
• Can be grown from 1000-3000 masl.

Animal health

• Ryegrass staggers results from toxins produced by a fungal endophyte often present in rye grass.
• The endophyte causes ryegrass staggers in stock through production of neuromuscular toxin, particularly alkaloid lolitrem.
• Symptoms of staggers in affected livestock include muscle twitching, unsteadiness and rapid beathing.
• In severe cases, animal may fall over and suffer a titanic spasm.