2004 Ohio Forage Performance Trials

Ohio State University Extension
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
The Ohio State University

Horticulture and Crop Science
Series 195
October 2004

Perennial Grasses

Perennial grasses provide early and late season grazing as well as hay. Grass species and varieties within species vary in several important characteristics that influence their suitability to a particular situation. The most important characteristics are maturity (how quickly the grass produces flowers in the spring), winterhardiness, stand survival, disease resistance, heat and drought tolerance, grazing and traffic tolerance. 

Summary of 2004 Crop Performance and Description

Tall Fescue Performance
            The tall fescue trial of endophyte-free varieties established at S. Charleston in April 2001 yielded lower than the previous two years, but yields were still good due to increased rainfall and below average temperatures during the summer growing season. Results from that trial are reported in Table 11.
             Tall fescue is a versatile and persistent perennial forage. In addition, fescue is used for erosion control, reclamation, and for turf.  Tall fescue can tolerate somewhat poorly drained soils and low pH.  It can grow and establish on medium fertility soils and is somewhat resistant to drought. Tall fescue is the most desirable grass to stockpile for late autumn and winter grazing.  During the winter, higher yields of stockpiled fescue are obtained when compared with other species of cool season grasses.  New varieties of endophyte free tall fescue have potential to increase animal performance during the summer grazing season as well as provide adequate forage quality for beef cattle and sheep during the autumn and early winter. Tall fescue is also tolerant of heavy traffic.

 Orchardgrass Performance
            An orchardgrass trial was established at South Charleston in April 2003. High yields were collected due to increased rainfall and below average temperatures during the summer growing season. Results from that trial are reported in Table 12 from a total of two-harvest dates in 2003 and four-harvest dates in 2004. 
            Orchardgrass is a versatile perennial bunch-type grass (no rhizomes) that establishes rapidly and is suitable for hay, silage, or pasture.  Orchardgrass is probably the most productive cool-season grass grown in Ohio, especially under good fertility management.  It has rapid regrowth, produces well under intensive cutting or grazing, and obtains more summer growth than most of the other cool-season grasses.  Orchardgrass tolerates drought better than several other grasses.  Orchardgrass is especially well suited for mixtures with tall legumes such as alfalfa and red clover; however, very early maturing varieties of orchardgrass are not well-suited for mixtures with these legumes. The rapid decline in palatability and quality with maturity is a limitation of this species.

Annual Ryegrass Performance

            An annual ryegrass trial was established at South Charleston in April 2004.  The trial was clipped early to promote growth (harvest 1.). Results from that trial are reported in Table 13. Yields were higher for the mid to late maturing varieties compared to early maturing varieties.  The variety Angus 1 appeared to behave like a true annual which completes its life cycle by the end of the first year. It produced well through July 31, but after that did poorly as very few tillers remained alive at the end of the season.
            Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is a cool-season annual bunch grass native to southern Europe.  It is closely related to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne).  Annual ryegrass is an important short-duration grass with high palatability and digestibility making this species highly valued for short-term forage in livestock systems.  In addition, annual ryegrass has high seedling vigor making it well adapted to either conventional or no-till establishment. Under good growing conditions, annual ryegrass can produce grazable forage in as little as 45 days after establishment. This trial will be continued into 2005 to assess winter injury and yield potential in the second year.