What effect does ryegrass production have on my Bermuda grass production when they are grown in the same pasture?
Ryegrass is a very competitive plant and will use up all of the nitrogen and a lot of the water in a pasture prior to the Bermuda grass greening up. If allowed to grow some height, it will also shade the Bermuda grass and inhibit its growth. If a Bermuda grass crop is expected that summer, a producer should have the ryegrass grazed or hayed off close by May 1. A nitrogen fertilizer should be applied at 50 units of N (May 1 to May 15) for ever ton of Bermuda grass yield expected.
