Key Points
- Earlier sowing produces greater forage and, therefore, added economic value.
- When three years data were combined, there was a significant downward trend in seed yield, at 0.17%/day, or 3.4kg/ha/day for a 2000kg/ha crop (Figure 2).
- Spring emerged tillers are an important component of yield when sowing after 1 May; they contributed greater than 50% of seed yield from the later sowing dates. These results contradict popular belief that spring tillers don’t contribute to seed yield.
- Economic analysis suggests that for each day of delay in sowing, combined losses from forage and seed yield equates to approximately $11.60/ha/day. Seed losses from delayed sowing for growersnotgrazing are less severe, at approximately $5.00/ha/day, although greater losses could be encountered through too much forage production if sown early.
- Italian ryegrass seed crops are currently under investigation.