Perennial ryegrass MERKEM

A late, high and stabile yielding tetraploid perennial ryegrass, suitable for intensive grazing and qualitative feed preparation

• Forms a dense and stiff sward
• Good resistance to the leaf diseases
• Good persistence in pastures for grazing and hey preparation
• Has good winter resistance, grows well in the spring
• Plants contain a lot of soluble carbohydrates, thus the feed value and digestibility are very good
• Heading date (according to the trial data in Belgium) – June, 1-2
• Plant development in the spring – 7.0 points (of 9.0)
• Resistance to rust – 5.4-5.8 points (of 9.0)
• Persistence – 6.1-6.9 points (of 9.0)
• Yield of dry matter in the 3-rd year – 98-99 % (of 13.5 t/ha)
• Yield of dry matter over 3 years – 98-100 % (of 41.0 t/ha)
  (data from 2015-2017 tests in Belgium)

• Heading time – 8 points (late)
• Heading time (in Germany) – 62 days after April 1
• Growth height / initial development – 5 points
• Growth habits / initial development – 5 points
• Growth height / fully developed – 7 points
• Growth habits / fully developed – 6 points
• Stem length – 6 points

*According to Beschreibende Sortenliste data. Futtergräse Ersparsette, Klee, Luzerne, 2020, Bundessortenamt.

• Dry mass yield – 8.55 t/ha
• The height of the plants at the first cut – 35 cm
• The heading intensity of the second cut – 6.5 points (out of 9, where 1 means no inflorescences)
• Regrowth after cutting – 2.0 points (out of 9, where 1 means very good)
• Winterhardiness – 2 points (out of 9, where 1 is very good)
• Persistence – 5.0 points (out of 9, where 1 means very good)
• Resistance to diseases – 4.3 points (out of 9, where 1 means very good)

*According to official trials in Poland in 2011-2013

• Very productive (4 points out of 4)
• Persistent (2 points out of 4)
• Resistant to crown rust (2 points out of 4)

*ILVO data

The varietal parameters may differ from those indicated here when the testing circumstances differ from quondam