Amazon T Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass

We recommend Amazon T, a tetraploid annual ryegrass with exceptional rust resistance for high-humidity areas. It combines that disease resistance with high-volume dry matter production and large, high-quality leaves for grazing or hay. It suits sandy to heavy soils with a pH of 5 or above.

Amazon T was selected for fast emergence, which helps when the autumn break is patchy or a false break follows. Its large seed gives strong establishment and good early vigour. Sow into moisture on sandy to heavy soils, and control weeds and insects early so young plants aren't set back.

Our Amazon T tetraploid ryegrass is known for outstanding winter dry matter production and was a strong performer in our Bindoon trials. It is a high-volume yielder with large leaves that stock find palatable. It is Australian bred and best suited to higher-rainfall districts with a soil pH of 5 or above.

For Amazon T we generally recommend around 25-35 kg/ha, sown shallow into a firm, moist seedbed. Tetraploids have larger seed than diploids, so they need higher rates to achieve the same plant numbers. Use the upper end of the range when sowing Amazon T alone, and a little less when mixing it with clovers.

Amazon T tolerates mildly acidic soils and waterlogging, making it a practical choice for many South West paddocks. It performs best where soil pH is 5 or above, so lime strongly acidic ground first. Its strong establishment helps it cope with a wet start, although long periods under water will still reduce growth.

We recommend Amazon T for hay, as its large leaves produce high-quality fodder and it performed strongly in our Bindoon trials. Its mid-late heading gives a good bulk of feed before cutting. Close the paddock up after the last winter grazing, and fertilise afterwards to replace the nutrients removed in the hay.

We suggest sowing our Finefeed diploid ryegrass together with Amazon T. Finefeed's fine, palatable leaves and denser growth complement Amazon T's large leaves and high volume, giving a balanced pasture across winter and spring. Add a suitable clover to supply nitrogen and lift protein.

With Amazon T, graze rotationally rather than set stocking, starting once plants are well anchored and won't pull out. Leave some leaf behind and give the paddock enough recovery time before the next grazing. Tetraploids like Amazon T are highly palatable, so stock will graze them very hard if left in too long.

Amazon T suits higher-rainfall areas, generally from about 500mm upward, and performs best where the growing season is reliable. It handles sandy to heavy soils with a pH of 5 or above. In lower-rainfall wheatbelt paddocks, a shorter-season option such as our Safeguard or Wimmera ryegrass is usually a better fit.

Both are productive tetraploid annual ryegrasses, but Amazon T stands out for exceptional rust resistance and fast emergence, which suits humid areas and unreliable breaks. Abundant is our long-standing full-season performer, known for staying green into late spring and making excellent silage. Tell us your district and end use and we'll help you choose.