Pasture

Pasture grasses : ( Pasture grasses are natural or cultivated grasses that are normally used grazing)

1.   Brachiaria brizantha ( Signal grass ,)

• Vigorous, trailing, loosely tufted perennial grass with erect, semi-erect or prostate stoloniferous base.
• The stolons, roots and branch readily at the nodes forming a dense turf.
• Prostate ecotype is superior under local conditions.
• Quick growing, aggressive and smother out weeds effectively. 
• Drought resistant
• Grows successfully in the dry zone, mid country and low country wet zone.
• Well drained areas are more suitable for planting.
• Remarkable forage quality ( Cp 8-10%) responds well to added  N fertilizer.
• Withstand grazing or cutting
• Seed set and viability of seeds are poor; Propagation is usually by cuttings
• Average dry matter yield under dry conditions 10000-11000 kg/ha/yr.
• The inflorescence is a panicle of 2-3 spike-like racemes attached at right angles to the rachis and spreading horizontally

  

      2. Brachiaria milliformis ( Cori grass )

• Vigorously growing semi-erect perennial grass but said to be annual capable of withstanding the shade, hairy grazing Brachiaria milliformis ( Cori grass)
• yield is around 9000 kg/ha/yr, average CP content 8-10%and weed infestation
• Most promising p2. Brachiaria milliformis ( Cori grass)
• yield is around 9000 kg/ha/yr, average CP content 8-10%asture under coconut: does not compete much with coconut.
• Average dry matter yield is around 9000 kg/ha/yr, average CP content 8-10%
• Suitable for mixing with legumes such as Cento and Puero due to its compatibility.
• Propagation by stolons or by seeds
• Inflorescence is a panicle with 2-4 widely spread raceme.

3.     Brachiaria ruziziensis ( Ruzi grass)

• A robust and vigorous perennial grass, very shortly rhizomatous; tussocky to 90 cm high, adapted to warm tropics with annual rainfall of 1000 mm or more.
• Grown on a range of soils but, best suited to well drained, fertile soils.
• Feeding value is high ( CP 10-12%) and does not decline with age as other tropical grasses.
• Annual dry matter yield 14000 kg/ha

    

4.Brachiaria mutica ( Para grass /    Water grass)

• A coarse and very vigorous perennial grass which roots at all nodes and branch at the nodes; has hallow stem.
• Grows well in swampy, water logged areas; adapted to areas receiving high rainfall of 1000-2500mm or more.
• Somewhat shade tolerant and can grow under coconut.
• Mixes well with legumes 
• Propagation by cuttings.
• CP content 6-9%
• Leaf blades are flat, about 1cm wide at base tapering to a point and from a few inches to over 30cm in length, hairy.
• May become a pest in irrigation channels and drainage ditches.
• The inflorescence is oblong panicle with a number of short spikes that are solitary  or sometimes in pairs and arranged along one side of  the central rachis.

 5.      Brachiaria dictyoneura

• A densely tufted, semi-erect, stoloniferous, perennial with short rhizomes with stems 40-120cm high; stolons slender but strong of reddish color.
• Leaf linear to lanceolate, 4-40cm x 3-18mm glabrous with strongly clenticulate margins.
• Inflorence consisting of 3-8 racemes on an axis 5-25 long, racemes 1-8cm long, hearing spikelets in two rows.

6.      Pennisetun clandestinum ( Kikiyu   grass)

• Vigorous aggressive grass suited to high rainfall, fertile hill country areas.
• Withstand close grazing, trampling and relatively long period of dry weather.
• Kikiyu is a perennial spreading by numerous long rhizomes and stolons
• Have short internodes and roots readily at the nodes.
• Very palatable and nutritious ( CP content 20-24%)
• Low dry matter content and energy protein imbalance limits its use in feeding to livestock
• Leaf sheaths are closely overlapping.
• Propagation usually by vegetative materials
• Inflorescence is very small, consisting of a spike of only 2-4 spikelet's.

7. Digitaria decumbens ( pangola  grass)

• A densely tufted but strongly stoloniferous creeping perennial grass adapted a wide a wide range of soil; can withstand heavy grazing and some degree water logging and shade.
• Invade the surrounding area quickly to form a dense cover.
• Palatable and digestible.
• CP 9-12 % 
• Average dry matter yield 10,500 kg/ha/yr.
• Mixes well with legumes
• Propagation is by stolon cutting
• They often root from the lower nodes which usually have a distinct purple blotch.

8.Setaria sphacelata ( setaria)

• Vigorous highly productive grass with stem up to 1.8 m height.
• Erect, tufted; can be used mixed with legumes
• Can be grazed or cut and fed.
• Annual dry matter yield 33,000kg/ ha.
• CP content 10-12%
• Have a high digestibility.
• Two varieties – Nandi – oxalic content 4% -  Kazungala –oxalic acid content 4%
• CV. Kazungala differs from cv. Nandi in being a more robust and coarser from in Kazungala
• Propagated from cutting.

9.      Melinis minutiflorus ( Molasses grass)

• A tufted leafy perennial with loose struggling or trailing stem which may root from lower nodes.
• Creeping stems with roots at nodes.
• The leaves are flat, short and board tapering to a fine point usually flushed purple or redbrowand pubescent.
• Leaves may give off a strong cumin or molassess scent.
• Combines well with tropical legumes, is palatable to stock but will not stand serve grazing.
• Propagated mainly by seeds
• Seeding rate 2-5 kg/ha.

10.    Paspalum notaturm

• Tufted perennial with thick rhizomes;
• Plants up to 75cm take sheaths usually glabrous or with a few hairs on the margins at the summit; ligulo 0.5mm long with fringe of short hairs behind it; blades up to 40cm long and 10mm board, ascrding to drooping glabrous or with some scattered hairs on the upper surface.
• Inflorecence usually of 3 racemes, terminal, green, paired or in 3.5 densely best with spikelets on one side

11.  Paspalum plicatum

• Summer growing frost susceptible. It combines excellently with a wide range of legumes to from a stable pasture.
• Tufted perennial up to 1.2m high. Leaves usually about 40cm long. But may grow to 85cm long, 10-15mm wide, folded at the base, cv. Rodds Bay is hairy on the upper surface at base near the margins, glabrous towards the tops. cv. Hartley is glabrous except in seedling stage , when they are covered with short soft hairs. Leaf sheaths usually glabrous although cv. Rodds Bay may have a few hairs the summit

Hope this post would have been informative, Learn and keep track of what you studied, Get notified about our new posts, Subscribe to our Newsletter :)

Fodders & Legumes of Sri Lanka that would be our next post. Keep in touch