| Scientific name: | Lolium multiflorum Lam. |
| Cultivars: | Late maturing: use this type for upper midwest
Tetraploid types are more palatable and tend to be more winter hardy |
| Origin: | Europe, southern |
| Growth Habit: | bunchgrass; 2-4 ft tall; |
| Life Cycle: | Annual (cool season) |
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| Use |
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| Production: | Excellent spring, summer or fall productivity |
| Nutritive Value: | Highest digestible fiber; quality drops quickly after flowering |
| Herbaria Image: | Click this link |
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| Identification |
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| Seed Head: | Slender spike |
| Seed: | 1/4 inch long; rachilla attached;
usually has short awns |
| Shoot: | Multiple leaves early |
| Leaf: | Glossy underside leaf |
| Auricles: | Present |
| Ligule: | Membranous; medium height |
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| Adaptation |
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| Soil: | Clay loam; sandy-loam |
| pH: | 5.5-7.5 |
| Moisture: | Requires moisture; 35 inches in growing period. No |
| Temperature: | 40°F (for germination) |
| Other: | |
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| Establishment - Management |
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| Seeding rate: | 20-25 lb/acre; for seed mixtures: 2 lb/acre |
| Seed cost: | $0.9 to 1.8/lb; ~$20 to 45/acre; ~$2 to 4/acre (mixes) |
| Planting date: | Early spring |
| Planting depth: | Less than 1/4 inch |
| Frost seeding: | March into closely grazed pasture in previous Fall |
| Fertilization: | 60 Lb N/acre, P and K (as needed per soil test) all applied at planting |
| Grazing: | 6 to 8 inches of growth before grazing.
Stubble height: 3 to 4 inches |
| Hay: | Dries slowly |
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| Notes |
| Rapid germination 7 to 10 days. |
