Cultivation

Forage use of Westerwold ryegrass

Lolium multiflorum Lam. var. westerwoldicum Wittm.

Westerwold ryegrass is a highly productive, early-maturing cereal grass used for the rapid production of green fodder, hay, and haylage. The crop is characterized by high initial growth energy and the ability to regrow multiple times after mowing within a single season.

In the reference 83 varieties crop Westerwolds Ryegrass, where this is mentioned in the description.

The crop is capable of producing the first productive cut 35–45 days after sowing and germinates at low temperatures starting from +2–4 °C. Westerwold ryegrass is used as a standalone forage crop, a cover crop, or for overseeding sparse stands. With sufficient moisture, it provides 2–3 cuts per season.

The plant has high digestibility; however, it is critically important to adhere to harvesting timelines, as delaying mowing leads to a sharp decline in nutritional value due to intensive heading and stem lignification. The optimal period for harvesting is considered the booting stage or the onset of heading.

Compared to Italian ryegrass, the Westerwold form demonstrates a higher development rate and dry matter yield specifically in the first cut. Depending on breeding objectives, tetraploid forms of the crop may have larger leaves and a higher sugar content compared to diploid forms.

General information about the subject — on the page Forage purpose.

Sources8

Varieties of Westerwolds Ryegrass mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.