| Scientific name: | Bromus inermis Leyss. |
| Cultivars: | Recommended varieties:
• AC SUCCESS (Late maturing)
• Big-Ton (bromegrass blend)
• Alpha, and Badger (improved resistance to root rot)
• Alpha, and Rebound (improved compatibility with legumes)
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| Origin: | Europe |
| Growth Habit: | 3-4 ft tall; Dense sod. Spread by short rhizomes, numerous but slender |
| Life Cycle: | Perennial |
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| Use |
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| Production: | Highly productive. when grown with legumes will produce one year after most legumes are gone. Productive end of April through end of October with a slump in July and AugustBromegrass and alfalfa is a popular mix in long rotations, wit |
| Nutritive Value: | Excellent palatability |
| Herbaria Image: | Click this link |
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| Identification |
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| Seed Head: | Panicle (open type), entire head frequently leans to one side |
| Seed: | Large (3/8 inch long) and light weight Tan to light brown. |
| Shoot: | Tall (2 to 4 ft), round, slender, frequently 2 leaves from same base 1/8-1/4 in wide |
| Leaf: | 'M' constriction midway between base and tip; 1/2 inch wide |
| Auricles: | Absent |
| Ligule: | Membranous, not prominent; ragged edges |
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| Adaptation |
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| Soil: | Well drained silt-loam or clay-loam soils; can be grown on a variety of soils |
| pH: | 6 to 7. Adapted to slightly alkaline or acid soil |
| Moisture: | Drought hardy and heat tolerant. 20 to 40 inches of rainfall |
| Temperature: | Winter hardy. Excellent overwinter ability Cool summers |
| Other: | Good traffic tolerance. |
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| Establishment - Management |
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| Seeding rate: | 16 lb/acre (alone); 3-6 lb/acre (mixture)
Seed needs to be stirred.Seed tends to bridge in drill. Seed with oats (spring only, using small grain box) |
| Seed cost: | ~$150/50 lb |
| Planting date: | Spring and late summer seeding by mid August Produciton likely in the 2nd year). |
| Planting depth: | 1/4 to 1/2 inch |
| Frost seeding: | Difficult |
| Fertilization: | Responds to N. Mid to late summer applications will increase production |
| Grazing: | Graze at 10 inches or when basal tillers are visible.Stubble height: 4 inches.Needs long recovery periodsShould not be grazed from early September thru mid-October to allow reserve accumulationLight grazing after no-graze period. |
| Hay: | Cut first crop before late bud or early heading; cutting late may cause bromegrass to become semidormant and unproductiveHarvest legume/brome mixtures before brome stems elongate or after basal tillers are evident.Spring harvest before jo |
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| Notes |
Does not tolerate short stubble
Low seedling vigor, slow emergence
Use varieties resistant to phytium
Mixture with legumes are used widely for silage
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