Manta
BIG, PERSISTENT, AND HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE.
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- Heading Date Late (+12-15 days) TBC
- Ploidy Diploid
- Endophyte Without Endophyte
- Rust Tolerance Very High
- Perenniality Italian
- Grazing Seasons Autumn, Spring, Summer
Manta is a late heading diploid Italian ryegrass with an upright habit, medium tiller size, and broad leaves. Often it can be mistaken for a tetraploid Italian, especially through winter and spring. It has a very similiar heading date to Asset (+ 12-15 days, exact date still to be confirmed).
- Very strong winter growth
- High total yield
- Broad visual plant type in all farm systems
- Low aftermath heading for an Italian ryegrass
Manta is a new generation of Italian ryegrass that has undergone significant selection in the upper North Island and includes genetics from short term ryegrass ecotypes (some possibly hybrids) from Northland. Alongside this Northern New Zealand ecotype material, Manta has parents from a core pool of successful New Zealand Italian cultivars as well as genetics from Spain making it a diverse and exciting addition to Agricom’s ryegrass portfolio.
Manta was originally bred with AR37 endophyte however it has first been commercialised in Australia as a fast starting Italian without endophyte. The AR37 multiplication was delayed in New Zealand and is due for release in 2023/24.
Manta is a long lived Italian with strong potential for persistence beyond its first year. Survival of Manta through a second summer is dependent on region and Argentine stem weevil populations.
Manta Italian Ryegrass & Relish Red Clover Mix
Sowing & Establishment
- Sowing Rate Manta 20-25, Manta undersowing 12-15
Performance Data
Seasonally Manta demonstrates very strong establishment and winter growth, peaking in performance through late September until the end of its first summer.
While Manta is currently Nil endophyte, it has a particularly strong second winter growth habit which is productive and highly visual. With its strong establishment, Manta is ideal for undersowing into thinning or run-out pastures.
Suggested Mixes
Dairy Pasture Undersowing Example Mix
Manta is a fast-starting Italian ryegrass ideal for increasing the vigour of damaged or
open pasture.
| Rate (kg/ha) | |
|---|---|
| Manta Italian ryegrass | 12-15 |
| Ecotain® environmental plantain | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15-18 |
Sheep & Beef Pasture Example Mix
Manta pasture is ideal for strip grazing in winter, grazing in early spring, and silage in early
summer with the potential to last 2+ years.
| Rate (kg/ha) | |
|---|---|
| Manta Italian ryegrass | 18 |
| Attribute white clover | 3 |
| Relish red clover | 4 |
| TOTAL | 25 |