John Fairey checks the crop
crop will be in the ground for two years, followed by two years of cereal crop, one year pea crop, another two years cereal crop, before another amenity grass crop can be planted in the same fields. Before sowing, the ground will have some herbicide treatments to kill weeds and any remaining cereal plants and other unwanted grasses (such as rough stalked meadow grass). The ground is then cultivated and drilled with the new seed, in this case Escapade.
Once the seed has germinated, John will commence regular visits to identify any weed issues and leave recommendations for treatment. In amenity crops it is vital to remove all Poa species. This usually starts with a residual treatment as soil temperatures drop in the latter part of the year.
Philip Gorringe
The crop is monitored through the winter and top up herbicides are applied in the spring if necessary. If required, potash and phosphate are applied. Ryegrass needs regular
applications of potash, because a lot is removed each time the hay is collected at harvest time. Nitrogen is applied in two doses in the spring. Total application is around 160kg per Ha. As well as controlling weeds, it is vital to
control disease. Ryegrasses can be prone to rusts, although varieties grown by BSH are particularly good at resisting rust infection. Nevertheless, John will advise that at least one fungicide is applied during the growing season. Research in New Zealand and Oregon is also indicating a yield benefit from a further late fungicide. Philip relies on natural rainfall, which is usually around 1,000mm per year. This year’s early dry spell in April and May has meant that crops were unable to take up nitrogen properly which reduced yield potential, particularly on the second year crops.
Because of the extra work that goes into
producing a top quality, turf grade amenity crop, prices have generally been higher than for forage ryegrasses. The effects of
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