C:N Ratios of the Ramets and Mother Plants in Homogenous Plots The C:N ratio responded variably to the different treatments. Some of us are unsure about the food plot that is mainly annual ryegrass because of its low nutritional value, but This characteristic makes it more tolerant of overgrazing than most other cool-season grasses. Michelle is the author of three country living books. Before planting, ensure that your lawn seed gets off to a good start by tilling in high-quality organic matter such as compost at a rate of three to six cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Therefore, it is widely considered to be the most important lawn grass in the United States. Without this treatment, Kentucky bluegrass sod will, . Throughout this site you will find affiliate links to items that we have read or used and highly recommend. We work with riders, owners and trainers and use the latest nutritional research and technology to produce feeds which will help you achieve optimum performance. Kentucky bluegrass can be found growing wild across all of Kansas in a variety of sites. It does well in open woods and meadows, as well as sites where the soil has been disturbed, such as tilled fields and overgrazed pastures. 3 FIGURE 1. Motivated by her experience growing up on a small farm near Wichita, Kansas, Michelle Lindsey started Homestead on the Range to supply Kansas country living enthusiasts with the innovative resources that they need to succeed and has now been keeping families informed and inspired for over five years. It spreads via rhizomes to form a dense sod and grows best during cool, moist weather on well-drained, fertile soils with a pH between 6 and 7 (Table 1). Like many common U.S. turf grasses, this versatile, widely used grass is native to Europe and northern Asia. Equine nutrition is a Filed Under: The Sunflower State Tagged With: Lawns, Livestock, Nature, Pastures, Plant Health, Soil, Stewardship. If the soil test calls for large amounts of nutrients, they should be applied prior to seeding and incorporated into the seedbed. In pasture mixtures, bluegrass is generally seeded with other grasses, and clovers. It arrived on our shores with settlers during the colonial period, and it spread across the nation with the pioneers. As growth of Kentucky bluegrass declines in midsummer, livestock production on these pastures also is reduced, particularly during a dry growing season. The thick mat formed by Kentucky bluegrass is also excellent for erosion control purposes. In Kansas, the best time to plant is September, as the soil will be cooling off and the weeds will be less competitive than in the spring. Kentucky Bluegrass Production By John D. Holman and Donn Thill INTRODUCTION The production of Kentucky bluegrass in northern Idaho began during the 1950’s with approximately 10,000 acres and has since grown to 70,000 Kentucky bluegrass. It often reproduces asexually by forming seeds in the ovary wall of the flower. Kentucky bluegrass is not a native of the United States, but rather Europe, northern Asia, and some of the mountainous areas of Algeria and Morocco. However, bluegrass has thinner blades and produces a fine-textured turf. The forage value of Kentucky bluegrass is well known across the nation. It can be used to stabilize banks, pond edges, and field borders, and it is a good grass cover in orchards. It hosts May, June, and Japanese beetle grubs, while it provides forage to deer, turkey, and rabbits. To obtain a proper seeding depth, the seedbed should be firm. Mow whenever the grass reaches three inches tall to bring it back down to a height of two inches (never lower than this, or the plants will be damaged and become more susceptible to disease). Kentucky bluegrass tiller type (F 1, F 2, C) is dependent on its date of emergence from a D tiller bud. Consequently, tall-growing grasses will thin under abusive management while Kentucky bluegrass volunteers and thickens, providing high-quality forage and protection from soil erosion. Delaying seeding until mid-morning when the soil has become slippery on the surface will result in poorer stand establishment. For more information, please read our affiliate disclosure. The forage value of Kentucky bluegrass is well known across the nation. Calories, carbs, fat, protein, fiber, cholesterol, and more for Kentucky, Bluegrass , regular (Smashburger). It turns green again as days become short and cool. Kentucky Bluegrass Pasture Management Bluegrasses generally grow better in soils of higher fertility and more moisture; when grown in soils not meeting the criteria additional nitrogen has to be added and/or the planting of legumes that co-exist in the pasture with the bluegrass. Copyright © 2013–2020 All rights reserved. Other forages The state of Kentucky lays claim to the nickname “Bluegrass State," but Kentucky bluegrass didn't originate there. Managers should use high stocking densities early in the growing season when Kentucky bluegrass is most productive or should harvest excess growth as hay or silage. When not pursuing hobbies ranging from music to cooking to birdwatching, she can usually be found researching, writing, or living out the country dream. Because Kentucky bluegrass grows to a shorter height than many other cool-season forage grasses, it is ideally suited for grazing. The various varieties of fescue used in lawns may present some identification challenges at first glance. It provides excellent nutrition to horses, cattle, and sheep when the weather is cool, although its production is limited when the temperatures rise. Greatest success is generally achieved when frost seeding is completed while the soil contains frost. Entering your postal code will help us provide news or event updates for your area. In … These diseases rarely affect plant persistence, but may reduce yield and quality. All types of fescue have wider blades, thus producing a coarser turf. This species is used widely throughout the U.S. where it is well adapted, but it has a poor summer performance in California in areas with warm to hot temperatures. Only three forage-type Kentucky bluegrass varieties, 'Park', 'Troy', and 'Ginger', have been released in the past 45 years. Generally, turf clippings contain 6-7% nitrogen, 0.5 to 1.0% phosphorous and 2-4% potassium; when returned to the lawn, they can account for a fourth of the lawn's fertilizer applications each year. Once the flowering process is completed and the summer grows hot and dry, Kentucky bluegrass protects itself from drought damage by going dormant. Palatability/Nutritional Value: Kentucky bluegrass has an average total digestible nutrient (TDN) level of 67% and crude protein level of 12% in the vegetative state. Where the height of the grass is not an issue, it will only need to be mowed once a year to control weeds and keep the stand looking its best. Reduce the stocking density later in the grazing season as grass growth slows. In Kentucky tests over 5 years, beef steers gained 1.19 and 1.24 lb/day grazing bluegrass-ladino clover and bluegrass-alfalfa, respectively. This ability makes Kentucky bluegrass an ideal species for permanent pastures that are continuously grazed. See All Pest, Disease and Weed Identification, See All Beer, Hard Cider, and Distilled Spirits, See All Community Planning and Engagement. Its pH preference is 6.0 to 7.0. Only three forage-type Kentucky bluegrass varieties, 'Park', 'Troy', and 'Ginger', have been released in the past 45 years. Adult Japanese beetle, May beetle, green June beetle, northern masked chafer, and European chafer lay eggs in thin, overgrazed bluegrass pastures, and the larvae then feed on bluegrass roots and rhizomes. Under conditions of high temperatures, limited rain fall, or low soil fertility, the amount of Kentucky bluegrass in a pasture will decline, allowing undesirable weed species to invade. About Bluegrass Horse Feeds Committed to quality for over 170 years Bluegrass Horse Feeds was developed in 1998 at our mills in Eglish, Co Tyrone, where we manufacture a premium range of horse feed. Kentucky Bluegrass grows best on heavier soils with a pH above 6. 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