RVP. Italian Ryegrass

kk_man

Hi. Have a field of winter barley which is being cut tomorrow. It's just not worth sowing anymore so I'm considering reseeding with RVP. The reason is that I'm finding myself short of silage the last few years. Know very little about it so was wondering does anyone know how much grass is it possible to grow with rvp( fertility being ok) What kind of tonnage can you grow? What's it's longetitivy like? Basically is it worth it. TIA

Water John

Well it is a short life grass,2/3 years. Also to watch is you cannot delay cutting, goes to seed rapidly.
If you are going with silage for a few years better use a specific silage mix. One mix my brother has use, has one standing species that helps stop the crop lodging or the butt rotting.

yosemitesam1

Probably worth considering including red clover, how long your keeping it in grass will decide whether its worth your while going with irg

mahoney_j

I've a field of it with red clover ,serious growth rates .thisxyear itvwas z grazed mid March and I've knocked third cut of bales of it over weekend .needs to be cut every 4/5 weeks max during summer as in space of a few days it can go from serious quality to muck .needs little n due to red clover but p&k needs regular topping up.i wouldn't chance grazing it either as its very open and wouldn't take even light poaching .mine in 3 years and still doing the business .

Bass Reeves

mahoney_j wrote: »

I've a field of it with red clover ,serious growth rates .thisxyear itvwas z grazed mid March and I've knocked third cut of bales of it over weekend .needs to be cut every 4/5 weeks max during summer as in space of a few days it can go from serious quality to muck .needs little n due to red clover but p&k needs regular topping up.i wouldn't chance grazing it either as its very open and wouldn't take even light poaching .mine in 3 years and still doing the business .

I have a three year old ley of it as well gone a bit bare in places, clover ok but grass is gone scarce. Intend to direct drill 5-8kgs/acre into it in the autumn.

blue5000

Another vote for red clover with RVP. Free N, but needs a high pH in soil, closer to 7 the better.

st1979

mahoney_j wrote:

I've a field of it with red clover ,serious growth rates .thisxyear itvwas z grazed mid March and I've knocked third cut of bales of it over weekend .needs to be cut every 4/5 weeks max during summer as in space of a few days it can go from serious quality to muck .needs little n due to red clover but p&k needs regular topping up.i wouldn't chance grazing it either as its very open and wouldn't take even light poaching .mine in 3 years and still doing the business .

How many bales an acre have you in total yet. And how many by year end do you expect. How much p and k do you apply

mahoney_j

st1979 wrote: »

How many bales an acre have you in total yet. And how many by year end do you expect. How much p and k do you apply

After 3 cuts 12 bales per acre .was also z grazed mid March .got 2.5 bags gran lime after 2 graze ,2 k gallons slurry and 1.5 bags 18 6 12 with s .after every cut 2 .5 k gallons parlour Washings and 20 units sul can .fourth cut will be taken early sept with just slurry applied after.z graze late October then generous coating of dung .i push it hard but feed it hard too .

blue5000

mahoney_j wrote: »

After 3 cuts 12 bales per acre .was also z grazed mid March .got 2.5 bags gran lime after 2 graze ,2 k gallons slurry and 1.5 bags 18 6 12 with s .after every cut 2 .5 k gallons parlour Washings and 20 units sul can .fourth cut will be taken early sept with just slurry applied after.z graze late October then generous coating of dung .i push it hard but feed it hard too .

Why are you giving it N? I reckon that's 100 units of bag stuff so far this year.

mahoney_j

blue5000 wrote: »

Why are you giving it N? I reckon that's 100 units of bag stuff so far this year.

Don't think it's excessive ,just found last year with less n grass just went to stem way quicker ,cuts that got slightly more n tested higher for p and Dmd

tractorporn

blue5000 wrote:

Why are you giving it N? I reckon that's 100 units of bag stuff so far this year.

Have seen teagasc research showing that the more N you feed red clover the lazier it gets. The trial showed that the plot that just got P and K produced more than the stuff that got pushed. I'll dig out the article for the exact figures.

st1979

Am considering growing Italian red clover but wonder why its not more popular

mahoney_j

st1979 wrote: »

Am considering growing Italian red clover but wonder why its not more popular

Quite simple it's just too hard control it and dosnt handle grazing in any sort of poor weather as its very open and poaching will make it even more so .zuits me as its a field on its own with only makeshift holding pen.unless ur prepared to cut it every 4/5 weeks from late April to mid September I wouldn't bother

st1979

mahoney_j wrote:

Quite simple it's just too hard control it and dosnt handle grazing in any sort of poor weather as its very open and poaching will make it even more so .zuits me as its a field on its own with only makeshift holding pen.unless ur prepared to cut it every 4/5 weeks from late April to mid September I wouldn't bother

Yea but how many of us have land that is silage only that's away from the grazing area. I know I have and lots of others have. There is little or no extra cost when you bale and wrap compared with pitting silage as you pay by volume.