Green Spirit Italian Ryegrass by Barenbrug

Green Spirit^® provides excellent quality forage for up to two years, depending on climate and available moisture. Due to its quick regrowth, very early development in the spring and prolonged growing period in the fall, this species usually has greater overall productivity than other cool season grasses. 

Green Spirit is the perfect blend of diploid and tetraploid Italian ryegrasses that provide exceptional high-quality forage.  Combining tetraploid and diploid varieties maximizes the advantages each has to offer.  Our tetraploid varieties provide high dry-matter production and improved palatability. Our diploid varieties are added for better persistence to traffic tolerance and disease resistance.

Key Features 

• High dry-matter production 
• Harvest 4-5 times per season 
• Little to no seed heads during the first year
  

Technical Information 

Establishment 

Green Spirit^® may be planted in the fall or spring. We recommend drilling Green Spirit for best results. Prior to planting, apply 100 lbs of a 20:20:20 fertilizer. For fall planting, plant immediately after harvest to improve establishment and graze or cut prior to winter in order to thicken the stand and promote winter survival. For spring planting, plant early in the spring. Green Spirit may be planted via full-cultivation, no-till drill or broadcast seeding. When planting as a nurse crop for a perennial or interplanting into an existing alfalfa stand broadcast or drill in a manner to stagger the placement of Green Spirit with the other crop. 

Seeding Rate 

• Seeding Rate:                                           30-40 lbs/acre 
• Planted as a nurse crop:                           5 lbs/acre 
• No-till into winter-killed alfalfa:                  25 lbs/acre 
• Plant Depth:                                              1/4 inch 

Management: 

• Grazing systems: graze 6-8 inches down to 3-4 inches
• Cutting systems: harvest at 12-18 inches
• Green Spirit responds well to nitrogen fertilization
• It is recommended to apply 40 units of nitrogen following each cutting
  

Adaptation: Climate 

Green Spirit is suited for all planting zones. In the northern United States, it can be used as a spring planted annual crop. In the transition zone it performs as a biannual forage crop. In the southern U.S., it is suited as an annual crop for winter production in mono-stands or in mixtures with winter cereals. Green Spirit performs well in the western U.S. with supplemental irrigation. 

Adaptation: Soil 

Green Spirit is adapted to a wide range of soil conditions - it performs in heavy clay soils and light sandy soils.