History

• For the past 200 years, the upright, cool-season orchard grass has been a part of the American landscape. But this perennial bunchgrass is actually native to central and Western Europe, not America. The 1830s Virginia settlers were the first to recognize orchard grass' value, resulting in its spread as far as the Pacific Northwest, where it is hailed even today for its value as a silage, pasture and hay crop, according to the Oregon State University. But orchard grass requires almost constant fertilization to produce large crop yields each year.
  
  

Significance

• Orchard grass also needs soil with a pH range between 6.0 and 7.5 to produce the highest-quality forage. But this grass type can also grow in a pH range between 5.6 and 8.4. You should make any needed soil pH adjustments at least six months before planting this type of grass. Otherwise, addressing any fertilizer deficiencies won't matter, since the proper soil pH is also needed.
  
  

Function

• A high production of hay and other crop output is desired and is what motivates farmers to use fertilizer on orchard grass. To meet those high output demands, adequate fertilizer will be required to provide the large amounts of nitrogen needed.
  
  Fertilizer also helps with the density of orchard grass. But don't overdo it, as excess fertilizer can be as bad as fertilizer deficiencies.
  
  

Deficiencies

• Fertilizer deficiency can occur and reduce overall crop output if you don't add nitrogen fertilizer after every mechanical harvesting--or grazing--cycle. Generally, four to six harvest cycles occur annually for orchard grass silage and pasture crops. And there are three harvest cycles annually for orchard grass used as hay. So orchard grass requires a lot of nitrogen replacement every year in order to avoid nitrogen fertilizer deficiencies--not just at the time of seeding.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• In addition to adding nitrogen fertilizer after each harvesting or grazing cycle, and prior to seeding, it is also recommended by the Oregon State University that a nutritional composition is taken of the crop. This is done to aid farmers in determining if additional nitrogen fertilizers are needed at other times during the year to prevent fertilizer deficiencies.
  
  

Warning

• Not testing crops for nutritional deficiencies or making needed fertilizer corrections can decline crop output considerably, reducing the 4 to 6 ton yield normally experienced when the grass is properly fertilized.