When to plant dwarf ryegrass?

Dwarf ryegrass is a perennial herb of the genus Lolium in the Poaceae family. It prefers a cool, humid climate, has a soft texture, is rich in nutrients, and has a high yield. It can be planted once and used for many years. It can be harvested as fresh forage or used for grazing. It is a high-quality green feed for raising cattle and sheep. So when should dwarf ryegrass be planted? Let’s take a look below.

1. When should dwarf ryegrass be planted?

Dwarf ryegrass is sown similarly to other types of ryegrass, usually in the fall or early spring. If your climate is temperate, fall (roughly September to November) is the best time to plant. The temperature and humidity at this time are suitable, which is conducive to the germination and growth of dwarf ryegrass. For warmer areas, such as some subtropical regions, you can choose to sow in early spring (approximately February to April). The sowing time should be determined according to the specific climate conditions and soil conditions of your location. Regardless of when you sow, make sure to keep the soil moist for a few weeks after sowing to encourage seed germination.

2. How to plant ryegrass

1. Land preparation and fertilization

Ryegrass seeds are small, seedlings are slender, and have weak soil-breaking ability. The land where ryegrass is planted needs to be deeply plowed, loosened, and harrowed to level the ground to create a good planting environment for ryegrass seeds. Combined with land preparation, apply sufficient base fertilizer depending on soil fertility. Generally, 1000-1500 kg of organic fertilizer or 25-30 kg of compound fertilizer is applied per mu.

2. Sowing method

The sowing method generally adopts broadcasting or row sowing, with a sowing amount of 1.5-2kg per mu. The seeds can be directly mixed with calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer before sowing, but in case of drought or dry soil, watering must be carried out in time, otherwise it will affect germination. Before sowing, it is best to expose the seeds to the sun for 1 hour, soak the seeds in warm water for 12 hours, or soak the seeds in 1% lime water for 1-2 hours before mixing the seeds to increase the germination rate.

3. Seedling cultivation techniques

It is recommended to use a mixture of soil, river sand and organic fertilizer as the substrate, planting 20-25 grams of seeds per square meter, and the seedlings will emerge in about a month. During the seedling stage, pay attention to supplying water, removing weeds, and applying fertilizer to promote the growth of branches and leaves to be more luxuriant. At the same time, prune appropriately to maintain consistent growth height.

4. Intertillage and weeding

Weeds mainly occur in the seedling stage, and the earlier the sowing period, the more vigorous the weeds grow, so good weeding work must be done. Glyphosate and other pesticides can be sprayed one day before sowing to remove weeds in the field. There is currently no effective weed control method for a small number of monocotyledonous weeds, so manual methods can be used to remove the weeds. In addition, ryegrass has a well-developed root system and generally does not require tillage.

5. Water and fertilizer management

Ryegrass is sensitive to water conditions, and in drought conditions, the fields need to be irrigated properly. Before winter and when the grass turns green in spring, apply top dressing once so that the fertilizer can dissolve in time and be absorbed and utilized by the ryegrass, quickly exerting its fertilizer effect and promoting the ryegrass's growth.

6. Harvest and Utilization

The first grass cutting can be done 40-50 days after sowing. The grass must be cut regardless of whether it is growing well or not. The stubble left for the first cutting should not be less than one inch. After that, it should be cut every 20-30 days depending on the growth of the grass.

That’s it