Pasture Growth Rate

Cool-season pasture plants begin to grow early in the spring from growing points (buds) located at or near ground level. Once these buds break dormancy, they begin to produce new shoots (tillers) and the leaves begin to capture energy from the sun. Some of this energy is transferred by the plant to other buds which, in turn, are stimulated to produce more new tillers, and subsequently, more new leaves. This process is most rapid during the spring and fall, with summer generally recognized as a time of reduced growth activity.

Actual growth rates observed during 1987 and 1988 on predominantly orchardgrass pasture at the Cornell University Hillside Pasture Research and Demonstration Project are presented in Figure 1.

Growth rates peaked near 100 lb Dry Matter (DM)/Acre/Day during the May-June period, declined through July and August to 40 lb DM/Acre/Day, and increased again during the September - October period to 55 lb DM/Acre/Day.

This information is important because forage growth rates at any given point in time are directly related to subsequent forage yield and dry matter availability. In other words, the faster the rate of forage growth, the greater the amount of dry matter accumulation per unit of time.

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