Green Spirit®
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.
Use this perfect combination of both diploid and tetraploid Italian ryegrasses as a rotation crop for fall planting. When planted in the spring, seed heads do not emerge during the first year. Green Spirit is a perfect high-quality emergency feed. Compared to small grains, Green Spirit offers higher yields of higher quality forage for a lower seed cost. Green Spirit comes from our NutriFiber™, Pinpoint™, and Covergraze™ families of products.
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Key Features
- High dry-matter production
- Harvest 4-5 times per season
- Does not go to seed 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.
Trial Data