Production and quality norms of certain grass species for fodder flow planning: Pretoria area.

Abstract

Reports the results of an investigation conducted to contribute information to fodder flow planning by determining the seasonal dry matter accumulative production curves, productivity and quality, on a time-related basis, of a number of generally grown pasture grasses; Four subtropical (Cenchrus, Digitaria, Anthephora and Sorghum) and two temperate grass species (Festuca, Agrotricum) were grown in a replicated field experiment at three levels of N application, with adequate P and K. Species were mown at 4-, 6- and 8-weekly intervals. DM production data for 6- and 8- weekly and 4- and 6-weekly intervals are presented for subtropicals and temperates, respectively. The object was to determine the seasonal accumulative DM production curves, productivity spread and quality, for use in fodder flow planning. The subtropical grasses produced 2 to 3 times as much DM as the temperate grasses: CGR 745-1237 versus 235-440kg/ha/wk under supplementary irrigation. The subtropicals produced ca two and a half times as much under irrigation than under rainfed conditions. Festuca and Agrotricum, Digitaria, Anthephora and Sorghum, Cenchrus, gave peak CGR's after 9, 15, 16 and 18 weeks after end of August, respectively. Irrigation resulted in peak CGR being reached earlier in the growing season than under rainfed conditions and in subtropical maintaining a high CGR for 1,5 - 2,5 months longer. Various implications of the results for pasture management, and the fact that quality and DM yield generally are antagonistic in subtropical grasses, were discussed.

Keywords: Agrotricum; Anthephora; anthephora pubescens; Cenchrus; cenchrus ciliaris; Digitaria; digitaria eriantha; dm yield; Dry matter production; Festuca; festuca arundinacea; fodder; Fodder flow planning; Grass production; Grass quality; Grass species; grasses; herbage yield; pasture management; Pretoria; production; productivity; quality; sorghum; subtropical grasses; temperate grasses; yield

Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa.