Ryegrass is important in south and central Florida because it establishes fast and produces high quality forage in the winter. One of the important uses of ryegrass is as an energy and protein supplement for lactating cows and growing heifers during the winter. Ryegrass can be sod seeded or grown as a pure stand. It can generally be grazed two months after seeding for 120 days or more.
Ryegrass responds well to fertilizer, especially nitrogen.
Nitrogen produces rapid forage growth, higher crude protein and improved digestibility. One should apply 25 lb. The optimum soil pH is 5.5-6.0. Not only are they good sources of nitrogen, but they contain other valuable nutrients such as sulfur, phosphorus, iron, etc. In addition, biosolids supply organic nitrogen, making it a slow release fertilizer.