Gulf annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is an eco-friendly grass that is widely used in the northern part of America as cover cropping, forage, pasture, or lawn. It is native to the southern Europe but has naturalized throughout the most of California. It mostly grows at lower elevations. It appears to have yellowish-green color at the base and the glossy leaves can attain up to 12-inches length. It has really fast seedling establishment and exhibited good strong seedling vigor. Annual ryegrass is able to tolerate short period of flooding and are tolerant to a wide range of climates and types of soil.
Gulf Annual Ryegrass for Deer
It used for various purposes, mainly as perennial grasses to lengthen the grazing season in the warm weather and provide grass feed for the winter. It is claimed to be highly desirable for grazing livestock. Gulf annual ryegrass provides abundant and nutritious pasture for young calf, although gulf annual ryegrass for deer is ranked in third or fourth place as the best nutrition. It also has another benefits connected to the life of other organisms, such as absorbing the excessive nitrogen from the corn seed and other row crops, helps to accelerate germinating and forming lawn grass species. It is even used for fish seed in the other parts of the world.
What makes the gulf annual ryegrass different from the perennial ryegrass, aside from the life cycle aspect, is the fact that it is a cool-season grass. That means it can survive the heat from the summer season and the cold climate of the winter. In the warmer locations, the mix of annual ryegrass, seeds, and legumes will suppress the weeds and established the grass. The root system is also beneficial in its own way. The shallow yet dense texture will support the water infiltration; therefore it will retain high moisture and fertility. The root also helps to reduce the erosion, as the system hold the soil even in the poor, wet, rocky soil conditions.
Annual ryegrass is usually planted in fall or spring season. If it used for winter feed and sown at cold season, it will set seed faster so make sure to take care to mow before it blooms. It is easily germinated in both warm and cold soil, but there needs to be no clods, debris, or rock present. The soil has to be well drained. Gulf annual ryegrass has few rust resistant varieties that can lessen the chance of the fungus in the crop in the spring.
