When to Plant Ryegrass? A Detailed Guide to Planting Methods

Ryegrass is a widely distributed plant, and it can often be seen in wetlands. Ryegrass has a fairly wide range of uses, generally serving as forage for cattle and sheep. Nowadays, many places plant this grass specifically for livestock raising, and because of its high yield, it is the preferred forage grass for many breeders.

Ryegrass Planting Methods

1. Land preparation and fertilization for ryegrass. Ryegrass seeds are small, the seedlings are slender, and their ability to push through the soil is weak. The ryegrass planting site should be deep-plowed and harrowed, with clods broken up and the ground leveled, so as to store water and preserve soil moisture, making the soil loose on top and firm below, and creating good soil conditions for ryegrass seed germination. In combination with plowing, apply sufficient base fertilizer according to the soil fertility conditions. Generally, apply 1000-1500 kg of organic fertilizer per mu, or 25-30 kg of compound fertilizer.

2. Sowing methods: There are three sowing methods for forage grass: drilling, dibbling, and broadcasting, generally with drilling as the main method, supplemented by dibbling and broadcasting. Drilling: Open furrows in the prepared land at 1.5-2 m intervals, with a row spacing of 20-30 cm and a sowing width of 5 cm, sow at a seeding rate of 1.2-1.5 kg per mu, cover with about 1 cm of soil, and water thoroughly; for scattered plots, use the dibbling method, as follows: with a hole spacing of 15×15 cm, sow at a seeding rate of about 1 kg per mu (8-12 seeds per hole), cover with about 1 cm of soil, and water thoroughly.

When to Plant Ryegrass

The suitable temperature for ryegrass seed germination is above 13°C, and seedlings can grow well at above 10°C. Therefore, the sowing period for ryegrass is relatively long, and it can be sown either in autumn or in spring. Autumn sowing of ryegrass can generally be done from mid to late September to early November, mainly depending on the previous crop. If it is for dedicated feed, it can be sown early, so as to make full use of the favorable weather in September and October and strive to increase ryegrass yield.

Precautions for Planting Ryegrass

1. Sowing quality: Before sowing, finely prepare the land and apply sufficient base fertilizer. Generally, apply 500-750 kg of decomposed human manure and urine and 15-20 kg of NPK three-element compound fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer. The soil must not be waterlogged at sowing, nor should it be excessively dry, otherwise germination will be affected. If the soil is excessively dry, irrigate with running water before sowing to moisten the soil; for plots with serious water accumulation, clear the ditches and drain them. For single-crop rice fields or idle fields, drilling is generally the main method, with a row spacing of 20-30 cm, and a sowing depth of about 2 cm is best. For double-crop rice fields, sow 7-10 days before harvest. Before sowing, first mix the seeds evenly with river mud and then broadcast them; after sowing, lightly strike the rice plants with a small bamboo pole so that all the ryegrass seeds that fell on the rice plants drop to the ground. A seeding rate of 1-1.5 kg per mu is best; if the seed quality is poor, the seeding rate may be appropriately increased to promote uniform emergence.

2. Seedling stage management: After emergence, apply 400-500 kg of decomposed dilute human manure and urine plus 4-5 kg of urea per mu as a seedling fertilizer once, to promote rapid growth of the seedlings. In addition, after each cutting, apply 3-5 kg of urea diluted in water as a topdressing once. Generally, when the seedlings are 30-40 cm tall, they can be cut; they can be cut 4-5 times over their life, but seed fields must not be cut more than 2 times, otherwise the yield of the seed field will be seriously affected.

Harvesting and Utilization of Ryegrass

After sowing, the first cutting can be done 40-50 days later. When cutting, it must be harvested regardless of whether the growth is good or bad. The stubble left after the first cutting must not be lower than one inch; afterward, depending on the growth of the forage grass, cut once every 20-30 days, and the stubble must not be lower than one inch. At the same time, according to actual conditions, it may be left until the jointing stage for cutting. The first cut of grass should be appropriately early, as this can promote tillering. Fresh grass that cannot be used up for feeding livestock can be stored as silage.

When sowing ryegrass, it is necessary to grasp the two key periods of spring and autumn. Before planting ryegrass, it is necessary to first select a site and then fertilize the land. Ryegrass is not tolerant of waterlogging, so drainage work must be done properly. Only in this way can the survival rate of ryegrass be ensured.