@ 6.
humidicola (here 'Yanero')
They should be grazed frequently during the wet season otherwise tolerates heavy grazing (WS)
they produce a lot of stems which are unpalatable. Establishment Q 6. humidicola (here 'Yanero')
from stolons is easy. Planting from seed is often difficult since it is spreads by stolons (WS)
slow t o establish, even from good seed. Seed quality is frequently O 'Tully' is excellent for controlling
poor. soil erosion (WS)
@ 'Tully' and 'Yanero'form a thick
B. humidicola can be fed t o sheep and goats in small quantities only. pasture (JH)
Feeding large quantities may cause photosensitization (see Section
3, Special Considerations).
Note: 'Yanero' was previously known as Brachiaria dictyoneura CIAT
6133.
Grasses
Brachiaria ntziziensis
Recommended variety:
'Ruzi'
good seed production
establishes easily from
seed or cuttings
provides high quality
forage
but
needs high soil fertility
poor persistence on
infertile soils
not adapted to long dry
seasons
'Ruzi' is a leafy, medium height, stoloniferous grass which is used
extensively in Thailand. I t has short hairy leaves. I n many areas it
produces high seed yields. The seed quality and germination
percentage are usually high.
I t is adapted t o well-drained, fertile soils in high rainfall areas. I n
these conditions it provides higher quality feed than other
Brachiaria species. I t is not well suited t o infertile soils, poorly
drained soils or areas with a long dry season.
'Ruzi' should never be fed t o sheep, goats or young cattle (see
Section 3, Special Considerations).
I t can easily be planted from seeds or stolons.
-
@ 'Ruzi' grows well in fertile soils
8 ~t has hairy leaves (JH) 3
@ It does not grow well in the
dry season (JH)
Grasses
Panicum mam'mum
Recommended variety:
'SiMuang'
l tall grass suitable for
cutting
s u i t e d to more fertile
soils
l produces high quality
feed
but
must be fertilised
regularly
becomes stemmy if not
cut frequently 'Si Muang' is a tall grass suitable for cutting which can also be lightly
not suited to long dry grazed. I t produces high quality feed if grown in fertile soils. I t has
seasons been selected by the Department of Livestock Development in
Thailand because it is leafier and has broader adaptation than other
varieties of Panicum maximum.
I t is adapted t o areas with a short or no dry season although it can
survive in areas with long dry seasons. I t needs high soil fertility;
manure or fertiliser needs t o be applied t o maintain good growth. 'Si
Muang' is best suited t o well drained, fertile soils but will survive on
moderately fertile soils. I t does not tolerate waterlogging.
'Si Muang' is known for its fast regrowth after cutting. I t must be
cut frequently, otherwise it quickly produces hard, unpalatable
flowering stems.
I t can easily be established from rooted cuttings or seed. Seed
yield of 'Si Muang' is high in many areas and seed quality is better
than earlier P. maximum varieties.
Note:
Another promising variety, 'Tobiata', is taller and has broader leaves
than 'Si Muang'. 'Tobiata' has hard hairs on the base of stems which
can irritate skin during cutting.
'Si Muang' has purple stems (JH)
It is a tall, upright grass (LS)
Ji Muang' used for cut and
carry in northern Laos (JH)
It produces good seed
throughout Southeast Asia
(JH)
Grasses
Paspalum atratum
Recommended variety:
'Terenos'
ltall grass for cutting
l grows well on infertile,
acid soil
w e t tropics with short or
no dry season
c a n tolerate some
waterlogging
v e r y leafy
but
n o t suited to long dry 'Terenos' is a tall bunch grass with broad leaves. I t is very leafy
seasons and palatable when growing in good conditions. 'Terenos' can become
coarse and unpalatable during dry periods. I t produces large
quantities of seed in most areas except those close t o the equator.
I t is a good choice for moderately fertile and infertile soils in the
wet tropics. I t is particularly useful for soils that are occasionally
waterlogged. 'Terenos' can survive in areas with a long dry season
but will not grow well. I t grows well in cooler areas (eg. high
elevation) where it tolerates some dry periods.
@ 'Terenos' grown along a fence
in Indonesia (WS)
@ Regrowth of P. atratum is
very fast (WS)
@ It produces good seed (WS)
Farmers often like 'Terenos' because i t is easy to cut and has fast @'Terenosf is easy t o cut (MH)
regrowth. I t can also be grazed.
I t can be planted from seed, but is also easily propagated using
rooted tillers.
Note: A related species is Paspalum guenoarum 'Bela Vista' (see
page 70).
Grasses
Pennisetum purpureum
and hybrids
Recommended varieties:
'Napier'
6 (local varieties of P. purpureum)
'Mott'
(P. purpureum cv. Mott)
'King
(P. purpureum x P. glaucum
hybrid)
very tall grasses for cut
& carry
highest yielding species
with high soil fertility and
irrigation
high quality feed
but
not persist without Pennisetum purpureum and the hybrid (P. purpureum x P. gloucum)
fertilising are very tall grasses which are well suited t o cutting. 'King' is taller,
not suited to long dry leafier and more productive than 'Napier' or 'Mott' in soils of high
seasons fertility, but is less robust and persistent under declining fertility
becomes Stemmy if not or during dry periods.
cut frequently
'Mott' (sometimes called 'dwarf napier') has many more tillers and is
leafier than 'Napier'. 'Mott' is better suited t o planting in hedgerows
than other Pennisetum varieties, although all Pennisetum varieties
need a lot of nutrients and tend t o compete with nearby crops.
Pennisetum species are potentially the most productive grasses
available, but do not tolerate low fertility o r dry conditions. They
are best suited t o fertile soils in areas with high rainfall and only a
short dry season.
Fertiliser o r manure must be added regularly t o maintain
productivity. Many farmers grow these species close t o the animal
shed t o make it easier t o apply manure.
They must be cut frequently t o remain leafy. If the plants are
allowed t o grow tall, they produce a l o t of unpalatable stem.
They can easily be planted from stem cuttings.
g 'King' grass in the early dry season in Indonesia (JH)
'Napier' grass for cut & carry in Thailand (JH)
g Pennisetum varieties can be leafy when cut often (JH)
(b Using 'King'grass as a fence around a chicken pen in Indonesia (W5)
@ They have very high yields but get very stemmy if not cut
frequently (JH)
@ Pennisetum varieties need manure or fertiliser for good growth (JH)
Grasses
Setaria sphacelata
Recommended varieties:
'Lampung'
(S. sphacelata var. splendida)
'Solander'
(cv. Solander)
l erect grass for cutting
s o f t and palatable leaves
l can survive in poor soils
l can tolerate waterlogging
for short periods
grows well in cool areas
but
l needs good moisture and Setaria sphacelata is an erect, perennial grass of medium height. I t
soil fertility for high has soft, palatable leaves and young stems. I t can be recognized by
production , the grey-green colour of its leaves. I t is suitable for cutting,
s o m e leaf,disease in the although it can be lightly grazed.
humid tropics
'Lampung' does not produce seed and has t o be propagated
l should not be fed to
vegetatively. 'Lampung' is best suited t o the wet tropics with a
horses short dry season. Leaf diseases can occur in very wet conditions.
'Solander' produces seed and is better suited t o cooler conditions
(eg. high elevations) than 'Lampung'. Although both varieties will
survive in infertile soils, they need moderately fertile soils f o r good
growth. They are able t o withstand several days of waterlogging.