ORCHARDGRASS:  Dactylis glomerata L.

	Orchardgrass, a native of Europe, has been grown in North America for over 200 years.  It has spread through a large area of the United States, where it has become a very important forage species.  A cool-season perennial grass, orchardgrass is utilized for hay and pasture.  While orchardgrass is more tolerant to heat than timothy or Kentucky bluegrass, it is less so than tall fescue or smooth bromegrass.  It is shade tolerant and routinely found growing in areas where there is reduced light, such as an orchard.
	Soil requirements of orchardgrass are less exacting than those of either timothy or smooth bromegrass.  Orchardgrass will persist on shallow, rather infertile soil and be modestly productive.  However, it responds well to fertilizer, especially nitrogen, and becomes very competitive when nutrients are available.  At high rates of nitrogen fertilization, orchardgrass is among the most productive of the cool-season grasses.  Hay yields in excess of four tons per acre can be expected when orchardgrass is properly fertilized and growing conditions are favorable.
	A high quality forage, orchardgrass, when in the vegetative growth stage, approaches the feeding value of alfalfa.  At full bloom, orchardgrass possesses approximately half the nutritional value of alfalfa.