This site needs Javascript enabled to fully function.

Meroa

Tetraploid Italian Ryegrass

Tastes better, matures later and beats the cold.

Meroa is a late-maturing, high-yielding true tetraploid Italian ryegrass. It has excellent forage quality, high yields and good winter hardiness.

Find a dealer

Features

Tetraploid Italian Ryegrass

Meroa has all the great benefits of being a tetraploid Italian ryegrass. It’s got twice the chromosomes of a diploid ryegrass and unique maturing of an Italian ryegrass.

High Yields

Meroa has demonstrated high yields when planted as a short-lived spring forage or a fall-planted forage.

Forage Quality

In multiple trials, Meroa shows the forage quality that you would expect from late-maturing tetraploid ryegrasses.

Winter Hardy

Meroa has outscored other varieties in winter hardiness trials.

A True Tetraploid Italian Ryegrass

Meroa is a tetraploid ryegrass. This means it has twice the chromosomes as a diploid, higher sugar content, and big juicy leaves.

Meroa is also a true Italian ryegrass, meaning that it normally does not go to seedhead until the next summer. True Italians need to go through a cold spell before wanting to reproduce. This means you get plenty of valuable forage regardless of when you plant it.*

*This does not apply to warm-season climates where all ryegrasses burn out in the summer due to high temperatures, but is specific to regions where ryegrass can grow through the summer months.

A comparison photo showing Big Boss Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass versus Meroa after 45 days.
Play Video

Winter Hardiness

Meroa has displayed good winter hardiness. Here are results/comments from 2014-15 winter:

Tennessee

Forage evaluator David McIntosh commented that Meroa had 10% damage in all the replication and that it "did good considering the winter we have had" at their Greeneville, TN location.

Ohio

At South Charleston, Meroa had nearly no winter injury and outscored 15 other entries.

A comparison showing Meroa versus another variety in winter hardiness.

Maturity and Forage Yields

In addition to being utilized as a spring-planted short-lived forage, Meroa can be used as a fall-planted forage or cover crop grass. When planted in the fall, Meroa has exhibited excellent yields, including very strong late-season yields.

Georgia

Yield Trial

Griffin, GA

Meroa had the highest score, outscoring 41 other entries. It even out-yielded the next best variety by 1,774 lbs. DM/A (15%). Most of the extra yield was in the last cutting, which was 4,754 lbs DM/A, as compared to the next best entry's 2,447 lbs. DM/A (nearly 50% less!)

Louisiana

Yield Data

Winnsboro, LA

Meroa produced 11,207 lbs DM/A over 4 harvests. This was the highest scoring entry out of 35 ryegrass entries. Of importance to note, Meroa's yields were also highest for both of the last two cuttings (April 8th and May 12th).

Mississippi

Yield Data

Starkville & Poplarville, MS

Meroa had the highest last cutting yield in Poplarville and the highest combined last two cutting yields in Starkville, MS.

Ohio

2015 – 2016 Annual Ryegrass Study* (Tons DM/A)

South Charleston, OH

Variety9/20/154/275/246/20Total 2015–2016
Meroa0.092.182.251.546.07
PS 150.232.191.771.525.71
Winterhawk0.062.381.821.445.69
FIPE0.082.221.761.395.45
Fria0.192.241.711.285.42
Nu Spirit0.072.291.681.385.42
Passerel Pluss0.262.161.691.205.31
Frosty0.142.171.551.084.94
Fiser0.450.240.770.521.97
LSD 0.050.090.270.180.240.43
*Planted September 4, 2015.
Complete data available upon request.

2014 – 2015 Annual Ryegrass Study* (Tons DM/A)

South Charleston, OH

Variety5/86/37/2Total 2015Winter Injury (3/27/15)
Highest yield1.781.801.023.460.60
Meroa1.140.930.882.961.30
KB Supreme1.261.200.482.941.00
Mach 10.491.020.842.343.40
Dyna-Gain1.000.940.362.302.50
Knight0.180.981.02*2.184.20
Green Farm1.200.620.332.161.70
KB Royal0.690.780.391.863.10
LSD 0.050.220.220.190.380.60
*Planted September 9, 2014.
Complete data available upon request.

Pennsylvania

Penn State University

Forage Yield (Tons DM/A)

Rock Springs, PA

Variety5/45/266/16Total
Highest yield2.31*2.56*1.345.71*
Meroa2.06*1.781.30*5.13*
Ribeye2.02*1.971.10*5.09
Fria1.952.150.955.06
Bar Extra1.812.041.15*5.00
McKinley2.08*1.881.024.98
Rootmax1.932.080.964.97
TetraPrime1.722.32*0.914.95
Nelson1.822.20.864.88
Jackson2.08*1.910.884.87
Green Farm2.16*1.770.874.81
Barprisma1.851.761.14*4.74
Lonestar1.891.790.954.64
Tam 901.821.720.924.47
Bill1.551.790.924.26
LSD (.05)0.320.340.260.54
Planted September 19, 2014.
*Statistically equal to the highest score.

Penn State University

2015 PSU Short-Lived Cover Crops Trial (Tons DM/A)

Annual Ryegrass (Multi-Cut)

Variety5/25/236/13Total
ME43.661.121.556.34
Marshall3.401.011.415.83
Meroa2.681.381.755.81
Centurion3.051.041.575.65
Mckinley3.031.001.585.61
Jackson3.201.041.365.60
Allegro2.421.331.755.50
Attain2.661.041.565.26
Grasshancer2.850.881.485.22
Nelson2.461.041.675.16
Fria2.870.891.375.13
Maryna1.621.591.895.10
Kodiak2.650.931.465.05
Tetraprime1.561.751.614.93
Barmultra II1.941.321.664.93
MO-12.860.831.174.86
Andes2.070.971.554.59
LSD (.05)0.400.190.270.63
Planted September 18, 2015.

Tennessee

Yield Trial

Greeneville, TN

Meroa had the highest final cut (May 26th) forage yield for 18 entries. Total season forage yield was statistically equal to the top variety.

Michigan

Michigan State University

Italian Ryegrass Forage Yields (Tons DM/A)

East Lansing, MI

|

2017-2018

VarietyWinter SurvivalHeading Date2018 Total2017 Total2017-18 Total
Meroa9.05/25/20182.90*1.48*4.38
Fox8.85/26/20182.93*1.42*4.35
Barextra7.35/25/20182.601.30*3.90
Firkin8.85/26/20182.63*1.253.88
LSD1.00.320.20
Seeded May 2017.
Experimental varieties not listed.
*Yielded statistically the same as the top-yielding entry.
Complete trial data available upon request.

New York

Cornell University

Forage Yields (Tons DM/A)

Ithaca, NY

|

MAY 2017 – OCTOBER 2018

Variety20172018Total
Meroa4.61*5.96*10.57
Feast II5.10*5.0710.17
Maryna4.175.69*9.86
Gulf5.17*3.828.99
LSD0.620.29
Sown May 18, 2017.
*Statistically equal to top score.

Kentucky

University of Kentucky

Forage Yields (Tons DM/A)

Lexington, KY

|

2021-2022

VarietyDecember 3April 30May 9June 6Total
Marshall0.911.841.011.004.75*
Winterhawk0.871.781.060.964.67*
Grazekeeper0.741.661.101.134.63*
Meroa0.811.711.080.984.58*
Koga0.811.661.031.024.52*
Dexter0.651.461.061.064.24*
FrostProof0.801.320.890.803.80
Feast II0.620.710.980.873.17
Gulf0.800.630.910.793.13
LSD0.210.330.160.230.70
Sown Sept 10, 2021.
*Statistically equal to top score.

University of Kentucky

Forage Yields (Tons DM/A)

Lexington, KY

|

2019-2020

VarietyNovember 6April 1April 28May 21June 8June 25Total
Meroa1.160.641.040.840.620.274.56*
Dexter0.930.690.980.830.580.334.33*
Koga1.150.640.990.400.540.234.25*
Marshall1.070.720.920.760.450.304.22*
FrostProof0.980.700.810.770.380.293.93*
Grazekeeper0.610.730.840.800.530.253.76
Feast II0.900.360.830.820.450.293.64
Gulf1.090.270.770.630.390.213.36
LSD0.370.140.240.180.150.110.57
Sown Aug 30, 2019.
*Statistically equal to top score.

Forage Quality

Meroa has the type of forage quality you would expect from a late-maturing tetraploid ryegrass. Forage quality samples have been taken in both 2015 and 2016 in multiple states.

Indiana

Byron Seed

Forage Quality - Indiana

Rockville, IN

|

Sampled 04/25/2016

VarietyDM% of Ave YieldCPNDFADFNDFD 30HNELM/Ton
Highest score479511623.457.635.342.40.713599
Meroa479511622.045.728.237.60.713599
lowest score37729118.145.728.237.60.632953

New York

Cornell University

Forage Quality - New York*

Ithaca, NY

|

Sampled 05/19/2016

CPADFaNDFLigninNEL, Mcal/LbRFVIFTD 30HNDFD 30H
16.9%27.8%45.6%2.9%0.7313787%71%
* See Full Analysis

Pennsylvania

Penn State University

Forage Quality - Pennsylvania

Rock Springs, PA

|

Planted 09/19/14

First Cutting – May 4th     
VarietyCP%ADF%NDF%NDFD30RFV
Meroa It.22.024.441.772.5157.0
Centurion It.22.025.442.671.5152.5
Bar Extra It.23.623.641.277.5159.5
TetraPrime It.22.924.340.578.0161.0
Barprisma It.22.826.341.271.0154.5
Second Cutting – May 26th     
VarietyCP%ADF%NDF%NDFD30RFV
Meroa It.16.432.652.958.5112.0
Centurion It.17.332.053.858.0110.5
Bar Extra It.19.131.752.759.5114.0
TetraPrime It.17.632.853.858.0109.5
Barprisma It.18.431.752.056.0115.0
Third Cutting – June 16th     
VarietyCP%ADF%NDF%NDFD30RFV
Meroa It.20.434.354.660.5106.5
Centurion It.19.335.255.156.5104.0
Bar Extra It.21.733.253.060.0110.5
TetraPrime It.24.932.048.659.0122.5
Barprisma It.21.631.753.859.5111.5

King's AgriSeeds

Forage Quality - Pennsylvania*

Ronks, PA

|

Sampled 04/25/2016

CPADFANDFomLignin
16.55%23.39%34.27%1.83%
NEL 3x, Mcal/LbRFVNDFD 30HTTNDFD, % NDF
0.7317772%71.36%
* See Full Analysis

Tennessee

University of Tennessee

Forage Quality - Tennessee

Greeneville, TN

|

Planted 9/17/14

First Cutting - April 8th*        
RFQCPADFNDFTDNDENELNEMNEG
144.4223.9437.5259.3259.772.060.610.590.33
IVTDMD48NFCLIGNINASHCAPMGKFAT
79.1517.121.503.111.120.240.261.983.43
Second Cutting - May 6th**        
RFQCPADFNDFTDNDENELNEMNEG
136.3421.3339.8358.8657.142.040.580.550.30
IVTDMD48NFCLIGNINASHCAPMGKFAT
115.9214.2839.4659.2857.562.050.590.560.30
Third Cutting - May 26th***        
RFQCPADFNDFTDNDENELNEMNEG
115.9214.2839.4659.2857.562.050.590.560.30
IVTDMD48NFCLIGNINASHCAPMGKFAT
75.6218.31.474.641.020.230.232.013.84
*Plots fully vegetative, but slow to grow due to late cold winter.
**10% seed head production.
***Fiber higher here due to the end of the season seed head production.
NIRSC equation for Grass Hay used on a Unity Spectra Star XL machine, database was updated in 2012 with ryegrass samples and these fit the statistics very well. Above are the means for the 3 replications for Meroa.

Planting

Seeding Rate34–45 lbs/ac
Planting DatesAug–Dec, Mar–May
Planting Zones (map)green
Planting Depth0–½
Optimal pH Range5.5–7.0
Planting zones

Contact Us

Unable to find a dealer? Have a question? Drop us a note using the form below.

We know that your time is valuable and are committed to responding promptly. That said, it may take us a day or two. In order to expedite your request, we may send your inquiry directly to one of our distributors or industry experts. Thank you!

How can we get in touch with you?

Information about how we handle data can be found in our Privacy Policy.

  1. Yes please. No thank you.
How can we help?

Note: If you are inquiring about a purchase, please state how much you are wanting to purchase and when you plan on making your purchases. This will help us direct you to the correct source.

More Forage Solutions

Many innovative forage solutions are available at SmithSeed.com and these product sites.