Technical Abstract: Seeds of cool season grass that shed on the soil surface are likely to be exposed to cycles of wetting and drying that may have an impact on germination and seedling growth within the pasture. Investigations were conducted to determine how seed germination and early seedling growth is affected by wetting and drying cycles and moisture potentials. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.)(IRG) seeds were placed in Petri dishes and subjected to 1-, 2-, or 3- 24 hr cycles of wetting and drying. After which, germinated seedlings were placed in pouches and hydrated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions of -4 and -7 bar moisture potentials, or distilled water. Seed were also studied for germination in moisture potential solutions. Moisture potential had a substantial affect on the overall seedling weight; shoot and root weights decreased as the moisture potential increased. As the seeds were hydrated-dehydrated the effect of moisture potential increased and overall seedling weight decreased. Seed germination was delayed at -4 and -7 bar moisture potential and germination was reduced by 5% in comparison to distilled water.