What methods of planting were used to establish ryegrass stands and how did they affect yield?
In 1998, balage was harvested from two prepared seedbeds and one volunteer field in a bermudagrass sod. In 1999, two prepared seedbed fields and one sod seeded field were used while in 2000 one prepared seedbed field and two volunteer stand fields that were prepared seedbeds in 1999 were used. Yields were similar between fields within the same year so planting method had little effect. When were cows pulled off ryegrass fields and how was fertilization managed? Dairy cows and heifers grazed all ryegrass fields until the first or second week of March, depending on grass height. Fertilizer was applied the middle of March. One to two hundred pounds of ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) were applied in all three years, and in 1999 and 2000 an additional one to two hundred pounds of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) were used. How long did ryegrass grow after cows were pulled off and what stage of growth was it in at cutting? Cutting was initiated around the middle of April so there would be four to five we
