The four perennial cool season grasses most commonly sown in the Hunter region are phalaris, cocksfoot, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue. The preferred sowing time is autumn.
Phalaris field
Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica)
Phalaris is a winter growing perennial, which performs best in areas with at least 500 mm annual rainfall. Phalaris requires medium to high soil fertility and whilst it is sensitive to highly acid, high exchangeable aluminium soils, it tolerates wet and/or moderately saline soils.
Its growth period is mainly from autumn to late spring with summer dormancy. Late spring grazing management is a critical factor for persistence of some of the more erect vigorous types. Allowing plants are occasionally “run to head” will enhance persistence. Phalaris shows good drought tolerance when established.
Phalaris litter contains toxins that can inhibit the establishment of sub clover. Excess litter build up (dry matter above 2000 kg/ha) should therefore be avoided as autumn approaches. All phalaris varieties contain alkaloids that can at times cause stock poisoning. Seek veterinary advice on stock and paddock management to overcome this occasional problem.
To ensure persistence phalaris is only recommended for sowing in favourable aspects (generally the Upper Hunter).
Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata)
Cocksfoot is a perennial suited to low and high fertility soils but on low fertility acid soils, has an advantage over other introduced grasses. It is well suited to areas of not less than 600 mm annual rainfall. In the Hunter it has better summer growth and is more drought tolerant than perennial ryegrass and fescue, but is not a good as phalaris.
Cocksfoot is relatively easy to establish and once established its main growth period is from autumn to late spring, with some varieties depending on climate responding to summer rain. Cocksfoot can have a lower nutritive value than phalaris, fescue and perennial ryegrass, but good nutrition and grazing management will allow it to perform as well as most other grasses. It is an important worthwhile grass for inclusion in mixes where soil variations occur. Selecting varieties with good summer dormancy may enhance persistence.
Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea)
Tall fescue is a long-lived perennial grass that requires good summer rainfall or irrigation for persistence (not less than 800 mm annual rainfall). Tall fescue is the best of the temperate grasses for supplying nutritious feed in late spring and early summer.
Tall fescue is adapted to a wide range of soil types (medium to heavy texture), soil fertility and pH, but like perennial ryegrass and white clover, it is most productive when soil fertility is high. It is quite tolerant of soils with high aluminium content and those, which are moderately saline. It is also the most tolerant perennial grass for flooded and severely waterlogged areas.
Tall fescue is slow to establish compared to perennial ryegrass and phalaris. Once established, grazing should be close but carefully monitored for the first two years to ensure persistence.
Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
Perennial ryegrass is particularly suited to medium to heavy textured soils with good fertility and an annual rainfall of not less than 800 mm. Perennial ryegrass will also persist on lower fertility soils and is tolerant of acid soils (but less so than cocksfoot or tall fescue).
Perennial ryegrass is easy to establish, produces high quality forage during winter to late spring, and is quick to recover after grazing. In the Hunter, perennial ryegrass does not persist on sandier soils (due to its poor drought tolerance) or in coastal areas (due to high levels of competition from other grasses).
Take additional care when perennial ryegrass is included in pasture mixes. As the rate of perennial rye increases, so does the risk of competition to other sown species. High rates often result in failure of the slower establishing species.
Varieties that are early maturing have been the most persistent. Later maturing varieties can produce more feed if irrigation is available.
