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The article presents a study on alternative management options for multiyear perennial ryegrass seed production in Northern Minnesota. Topics include the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and fall residue management, such as open burning, baling, and mowing, to achieve multiyear seed production in northern climates.

Nitrogen enhances annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) growth on the infertile Coastal Plain soils in the southeastern United States but N can be antagonistic to clovers. Nitrogen rate and time of application were evaluated on an arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi.)- annual ryegrass mixture growing on a Coastal Plain soil for 3 yr in northeast Texas. Fertilizer treatments were 0, 34, 67, or 101 kg N ha-1 at planting or first true clover leaf (FCL) stage followed by 0 or 67 kg N ha-1 in December and March. Planting, FCL, and December N applications enhanced ryegrass production but had little effect on arrowleaf clover production by mid March. The general trend was for clover percentage and yield to decrease and ryegrass yield to increase as the total amount of N fertilizer applied increased. The no-N treatment always had the greatest percentage clover usually followed by single N application treatments with clover percentages greater than 50%. Average annual yield of ryegrass alone without N was 1139 kg ha-1 compared to 4038 kg ha-1 with 201 kg N ha-1. Applying 67 kg N ha-1 at FCL and in December and March was always one of the most productive N treatments. Applying 67 kg N ha-1 only twice at FCL and in December was the best compromise for maintaining a high clover percentage and clover-ryegrass yield and was always equal to ryegrass alone with three appli- cations of 67 kg N ha-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early weaning of calves (Bos spp.) increases pregnancy rates of beef cows; however, there is little information on nutritional management of the weaned calf on pasture. This research evaluated the effect of concentrate supplementation level on performance of early weaned (90 d of age) beef calves grazing annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.)-rye (Secale cereale L.) mixtures on Adamsville (uncoated, hyperthermic, Aquic Quartzipsamment) and Pomona (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Ultic Alaquod) sands. Three levels of supplement (10, 15, and 20 g kg-1 of calf body weight [BW]) were evaluated in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The concentrate contained 146 and 700 g kg-1 of crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN). Pastures were rotationally stocked with a 7-d grazing and 21-d rest period. Two calves were assigned as testers to each pasture, and additional animals were used to maintain a similar herbage allowance across treatments. There was no effect of concentrate supplementation level on herbage mass, accumulation, allowance, or nutritive value. Calf average daily gain (ADG; 0.74–0.89 kg), liveweight gain (LWG) per hectare (950–1320 kg), and stocking rate (SR; 5.5–6.5 animal units [AU] ha-1) increased linearly, and forage intake decreased linearly (18–11 g kg-1 BW) as concentrate rate increased. Grazing time was 284, 230, and 234 mind-1 (linear and quadratic effects) for the 10, 15, and 20 g kg-1 BW supplement treatments, respectively. Feeding systems with modest levels of supplementation (10 g kg-1 BW) of calves grazing cool-season grasses are practical options for early weaned calves during winter in the southeastern USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic performance trials have been conducted in several states for more than 20 yr to evaluate agronomic performance of annual rye- grass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Despite development and testing of many annual ryegrass cultivars, the first improved cultivar, Gulf, has remained one of 10 to 12 cultivars recommended for planting in the southeastern USA. Our objectives were to evaluate cultivar yield performance across 12 yr at five locations, to assess cultivar yield distribution within growing seasons, and to estimate cultivar yield stability (consistency of relative performance environments). Efficacy measures were early-season yield (total before 1 March), late-season yield (total after 1 March), and total annual yield. Overall means for all cultivars and individual cultivar performance (for common years) were compared with Gulf or Marshall. Neither location effects nor cultivar × location interactions were found. Cultivar and year effects, plus cultivar × year interactions were detected (P < 0.05) for all three yield responses. Mean early season yields ranged from 2.3 to 4.6 Mg ha-1, with mean late-season yields ranging from 5.1 to 7.4 Mg ha-1. No trend existed for mean total yield relative to Gulf or Marshall to increase over time in association with availability of newer cultivars. Given large yearly fluctuation in yields, it is apparent that unpredictable environmental factors, including climate and perhaps pests, are the primary determinants of annual ryegrass performance rather than differences in yield potential among cultivars. Thus, yield stability may be an appropriate selection factor to include among the criteria for development of improved annual ryegrass cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is often poorly established when sown in turfgrass seed mixtures with slender creeping red rescue (Festuca rubra L. ssp. litoralis Vasey) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), possibly because of its slow emergence and slow seedling growth. This study investigated the effect of sowing Kentucky bluegrass earlier than red fescue and perennial ryegrass on the botanical composition of the established turfgrass. In field experiments established during 2 yr, red fescue and perennial ryegrass were sown at weekly intervals from zero to 35 d [0-679 degree-days (°days) with a base temperature of 0°C] after Kentucky bluegrass had been sown in the same plot. Nine or twelve months after establishment, the botanical composition was estimated. When the species were sown simultaneously, Kentucky bluegrass only constituted 3 to 30% of the fillers, although the species constituted 50 to 59% of the viable seeds of the seed mixture. Delayed sowing of red fescue and perennial ryegrass significantly improved the establishment of Kentucky bluegrass, i.e., the percentage of tillers could be increased by up to 0.08% for every °day Kentucky bluegrass was sown before red fescue and perennial ryegrass. There was a corresponding negative effect on the percentage tillers of red rescue and primarily perennial ryegrass. In certain cases, the relationship between percentage tillers and difference in sowing time was better described by a nonlinear function, indicating an increasing effect when difference in sowing time was large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Features the U.S. registration of the cultivar 'Shiwasuaoba' annual ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum. Research leading to the development of Shiwasuaoba; Developers of the cultivar; Breeding program; Resistance to crown crust; Possession of several B-chromosomes.

Offers information on the registration of the cultivar Secretariat Kentucky ryegrass with the agricultrual authorities in Washington. Developer of the plant variety; Plant structure and appearance; Average annual seed yield.

Reports the registration of perennial ryegrass named Citation III released by Pure Seed Testing Inc. Date released; Development of Citation III in cooperation with the Agricultural Experiment Station in New Jersey; Characteristics of the Citation III.

Reports on the registration of the cultivar Jumbo tetraploid annual ryegrass, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Origins of the cultivar; Development of the breed; Average grain yield.