Technical Abstract: Temperate forages are utilized throughout the southeast USA to provide feed for livestock in the fall, winter, and spring when tropical grasses are dormant. Broiler litter, produced in abundance in many areas of the region, often serves as a fertilizer source for these forages. Our objective was to determine nutrient uptake of commonly available temperate forage species. Single-harvest P, Cu and Zn uptake of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was compared with three small grains, ten annual legumes, and three perennial legumes on a Savannah loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Fragiudult). Ryegrass yielded greater dry weight than all other species except ball clover (Trifolium nigrescens Viv.)in 1997 and oats (Avena sativa L.)in 1998. Clovers were susceptible to Sclerotinia crown and stem rot (Sclerotinia trifoliorum Erikss.)that reduced plant density, vigor, and yield. Although forage P concentration of all species was similar to or greater than that of ryegrass both years, ryegrass usually had greater P uptake (mean of 23.4 kg ha-1). This was attributed to the negative or low correlation between P concentration and P uptake R=0.12 and -0.11 in 1997 and 1998, respectively), and the high correlation between dry weight and P uptake r = 0.95 and 0.89 in 1997 and 1998, respectively). Although legume Cu and Zn concentration often exceeded that of ryegrass, ryegrass Cu and Zn uptake was greater than that of all legumes except crimson clover (T. Incarnatum L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth).