Researchers develop more productive ryegrass cultivar

Embrapa researchers developed a new ryegrass cultivar (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) with leaf productivity up to 20% higher compared to traditional leaves of the same species. This is an important advance since this grass is widely used to feed dairy cattle, especially in the South Region. In terms of forage productivity, the newly developed material generated 2% more than the BRS Ponteio and Fepagro cultivars, two important ryegrass materials that are on the market. Called BRS Estações, the new cultivar was among the most productive in experiments carried out in Paraná.

With launch scheduled for August 29th, BRS Estações has a long production cycle, persisting until November according to Embrapa Gado de Leite researcher, Andréa Mittelmann. “This allows grazing to be prolonged, contributing to tackling the spring forage gap”, highlights the researcher, detailing that the cultivar is medium to low in height, with broad, long leaves and a dense inflorescence, with a high number of spikelets per spike.

Launch at Expointer

BRS Estações, a new ryegrass cultivar from Embrapa, will be launched on August 29th, during Expointer, at the Assis Brasil State Exhibition Park, in Esteio (RS).

The cultivar was developed by Embrapa's Ryegrass Improvement Program, which integrates the Embrapa Clima Temperado and Embrapa Dairy Cattle units, with participation from the Embrapa Pecuária Sul and Embrapa Trigo units. The development took place within the scope of Embrapa's agreement with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and with the South-Brazilian Association for the Promotion and Research of Forages (Sulpasto). 

“As it comes from populations adapted to the Southern Region of Brazil, the plant has good adaptation and health, in addition to having high forage productivity, with excellent quality due to late flowering and excellent leaf/stalk ratio”, reports the Embrapa researcher Temperate Climate, Fernanda Bortolini. The researcher highlights the productivity of the seeds, as they have dense ears and the ability to naturally reseed. Embrapa analyst Sérgio Bender says that the new cultivar stands out mainly for its good leaf productivity, which gives more quality to grazing.

This is the third ryegrass cultivar developed by Embrapa. The first, BRS Ponteio, took place a decade ago and was considered a success by the sector, with productivity 7% higher than competitors at the time. The second, BRS Integração, launched in 2017, has a shorter cycle (20 days less), producing 5% more than BRS Ponteio and adapts well to the Crop Livestock Integration (ILPF) systems.

Plants are considered suitable for grazing when they reach 18 cm in height, according to Carlos Eduardo da Silva Cardoso, professor at the Department of Phytotechnics at the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) who specified the management protocols. For maximum accumulation of live leaves to occur, the interval between cuts must correspond to the time required for the complete expansion of two new leaves: around 30 days or 300 Degree-Days (calculation of the thermal sum in degree-days “GD” carried out from the average air temperature subtracted from the base temperature) during the vegetative period and around 20 days or 230 Degree-Days during the reproductive period. “In order for there to be a high harvest of living leaves, at each grazing the plants must be lowered until they reach half of their initial height”, recommends the professor. The appearance of flowers occurs in mid-October, with sufficient seed production for natural reseeding, forming a new ryegrass pasture in the same area the following year.

Winter forage

Ryegrass is a forage species of great importance for the Southern Region of Brazil and, as long as it is irrigated, it can also be cultivated in some locations in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais.

One of the main winter forages grown in Brazil, this grass resists low temperatures well. An important protein bank for cattle in the off-season, supplementation with just two hours of grazing in a field cultivated with ryegrass is capable of guaranteeing the daily production of around ten liters of milk per cow, reducing the need for concentrate and, consequently, production costs.

The grass adapts well to the climatic conditions of central-south Brazil, where, during winter, temperatures are mild. One limitation, however, is the need for water. It requires continuous use of irrigation. As it is an annual crop, suitable for autumn/winter, ryegrass does not compete with other crops. The grass can be planted in the same areas used to grow corn or rice. Planting takes place in mid-March and late April, when the summer crop areas are already unoccupied.

The forage has small seeds, the size of a grain of rice and can be sown in rows or broadcast. It can also be sown with conventionally prepared soil or overseeded in areas of native fields or cultivated summer pastures.

Ryegrass is used for grazing. As the forage is used in winter (the most critical period for livestock feeding), there is no need for conservation. In confined systems, forage can be cut in the field and fed green to animals. The use of green fodder reduces the need for labor. However, nothing prevents the producer from making silage or hay.

How to acquire seeds

The seeds of the new cultivar can be purchased by Andreola & Cia. Ltda. Rua Henrique Scarpellini, 2077 - Industrial Area CEP 98270-000 – Pejuçara, RS Telephone: (55) 3377-1363 e-mail: andreola.comercial@hotmail.com

Recommended management

The management recommendations for BRS Estações were developed by Embrapa in partnership with the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel). The professor at the Department of Phytotechnics at UFPel, Carlos Eduardo da Silva Pedroso, lists the following management precautions in cultivation:

- Sowing density: 20 kg/ha of viable pure seeds when sowing in rows and 25 kg when sowing by broadcast;

- Soil correction: Soil corrected for acidity and fertility, in accordance with the recommendations of the Brazilian Society of Soil Science;

- Nitrogen fertilization: 20 to 30 kg N/ha at the base and 150 kg/ha in top dressing, divided throughout the cycle, with the first dose being when the plants have three to four leaves.