Careful stand management during the first year is essential for long-term productivity. Most perennial forage grasses are bunch grasses. A single shoot is produced from a single seed. As this shoot is bitten or clipped off, the plant sends up multiple new shoots or tillers from the (basal) buds at the base of the plant. Likewise, as these new tillers are clipped, more tillers are formed creating an ever-larger bunch. This tillering and bunching continues until the spaces are filled, forming a dense, leafy stand. The tillering process is triggered by the basal buds receiving periodic exposure to sunlight. To maximize tiller growth during the first year, the height of the pasture should be maintained in the 3 to 10 inch range to allow maximum sunlight penetration. Once the newly seeded plants are firmly rooted, they should be lightly grazed or machine mowed several times before heavy use to promote tillering. (Check to see if the plants are firmly rooted by grabbing plants near the middle with your thumb and forefinger and pulling. If the plants break off they are ready for grazing. If the plant pulls out of the ground, mow again then check again when the plants reach grazing height.) Do not graze or clip shorter than 2 inches, and do not allow the stand to grow taller than 10 inches. Defer making hay if possible until the second year. Once established the pasture should be grazed starting at the 6-inch height, leaving a 3-inch residual, or machine harvested for green chop, hay or silage at the 10-12 inch range. Don't let it get too tall! Graze or mow to keep the stand leafy and vegetative. The leaf contains the nutrients and, up to 12 inches in height, the plant is 90% leaf. When allowed to grow taller than 12 inches, the quality drops dramatically as the plant switches from producing nutritious leaves to being reproductive, as evidenced by the production of reproductive stems and seed heads. Management should be aimed at maintaining a dense, leafy pasture cover.
To enhance production, the tactical application of 50 lbs./acre of nitrogen is recommended at the start of spring to jump start early growth, and periodic (monthly if possible) applications of 30-40 lbs./acre timed with rainfall or irrigation made during the summer to maintain production during this stressful heat period. In mild winter areas an early fall application of 50 lbs./acre can extend the grazing period well beyond the normal season. Cold winter survival is enhanced by entering winter with the grass left at a short, but still green length of 4-5 inches.
Previous chapter:> Seeding Rates
Next chapter:>Effectiveness of Management Intensive Grazing (MIG)