Section 8 Table of Contents

Table 1.8-3

Table 1.8-3. Characteristics of some perennial forages grown in the northeastern United States.
Species Soil moisture adaption Soil fertility adaption Drought tolerance Periods of production Rel. maturity classification¹ Growth habit Height classification
  1. Maturity classification refers to the relative timing of heading or flowering and depends not only on species but also on variety.
  2. The growth habit of tall fescue depends on harvest management: under lax cutting, bunch; under intense cutting, sod.
  3. Depends on fall management and winter temperatures.
  4. Warm-season grasses mature in mid- to late summer depending on species.
  5. Height of birdfoot trefoil depends largely on variety.
Cool-season grasses
Kentucky bluegrass Well-drained to moist Good to medium Poor Early spring and late fall Early Dense sod Short
Timothy Well-drained to moist Medium to fair Poor Late spring and fall Medium-late to late Bunch Tall
Smooth bromegrass Well-drained High to good Good Spring, summer, and fall Medium-late Open sod Tall
Orchardgrass Droughty to moist Medium to fair Good Early spring, summer, and fall Early to medium Bunch Tall
Reed canarygrass Droughty to wet Medium to fair Very good Early spring, summer, and fall Medium-late Open sod Tall
Perennial ryegrass Well-drained to moist Good to medium Poor Early spring and late fall Early to medium Bunch Short
Tall fescue Droughty to moist Medium to fair Good Early spring, summer, and fall Medium-late Variable² Tall
Matua prairiegrass Droughty to moist Medium to fair Very good Early spring, summer, and fall³ Medium Bunch Tall
Warm-season grasses
Switchgrass Droughty to moist Poor to fair Excellent Summer Very late4 Bunch Tall
Big bluestem Droughty to moist Poor to fair Excellent Summer Very late³ Bunch Tall
Legumes
Alfalfa Well-drained High to good Very good Spring, summer, and early fall Medium-early Bunch Tall
Red Clover Well-drained Good to medium Fair Spring, summer, and fall Medium Bunch Tall
Birdsfoot trefoil Droughty to wet Medium to fair Good Spring, summer, and early fall Medium-late to late Bunch Medium5
White clover, common Moist Medium Poor Spring and fall Medium Spreading Short
White clover, Ladino Moist Good to medium Poor Spring, summer, and fall Medium Spreading Short