Benefits
- Adapted to warm, low rainfall areas in SA
- Relative good drought resistance – rhizomes to produce more tillers
- Widely addapted to soils – except light sand
- Prefer alcaline soils
- Deep roots - 1 500 mm
- Normally for cattle – also sheep, horses, hay making
Establishment
- November, February and March
- Rolling action essential
Varieties
Gayanda: Fine, medium-short, tufted, non-rhizomatous type, to 90 cm tall (commonly 30-60 cm), mid season flowering, suitable for light to medium textured soils. Has very good stock acceptance and characterised by its dense tillers.
Molopo: From North West Province, South Africa. A tall, rhizomatous grass with distinctly grey leaves and straw-coloured seed heads. Cold tolerant and grows longer into the cool season. Well adapted to heavier soils. Good seed production if adequately N fertilised.
Soil preparation
- Reacts favourably when soils are loosened before the summer rains
- Heavy soils that cracks during winter needs less loosening than lighter soils
- Cultivations should not be done in winter – can lead to dying off of grass
Utilisation
- Grazing normally starts in November – grass 300 mm high
- Best if grass is lightly grazed or completely eaten down
- If not, the result would be a mix of new leaves and old stalks - unpalatable
- Very quick rotation or relative long grazing period
- Beginning of summer – grass grows faster – difficult to implement grazing systems
- Recommended to make hay or be rested for winter
- End of winter – all old material to be removed
- Keep as leafy as possible