Variety traits

Dry Matter — Italian Ryegrass

Lolium multiflorum Lam.

An indicator of Italian ryegrass productivity, defined as the mass of absolutely dry matter per hectare. The level of DM accumulation directly depends on the growth stage, agrotechnical background, and the crop's regrowth capacity.

In the reference 73 varieties crop Italian ryegrass, where this is mentioned in the description.

The dry matter yield of Italian ryegrass is expressed in tons or centners per hectare and is determined by drying green mass samples to a constant weight. The dry matter content as a percentage of total mass characterizes the concentration of nutrients such as protein, fiber, and sugars.

Optimal harvest times to ensure a balance between yield and forage quality occur during the booting or early heading stage, as nutritional value decreases if the crop is left standing too long. The high regrowth capacity of ryegrass ensures total seasonal productivity, despite potential differences in first-cut yields compared to annual forms.

Due to the high moisture content of green mass during early growth stages, Italian ryegrass requires mandatory conservation in the form of ensiling or haylage. The dry matter accumulation potential is effectively increased through the optimization of nitrogen fertilization and the management of cutting frequency.

General information about the subject — on the page Dry matter.

Sources8

Varieties of Italian 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.