KIKUYU GRASS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5120, 2 May 1927, Page 1

KIKUYU GRASS.

A CHANGE FROM PASPALUM.

TEST IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

A Plains farmer has sent us a clipping from an Australian far journal concerning a grass which is fast gaining popularity among t.ho dairy farmers of New South Wales on account of its ability to produce a heavy bulk of succulent fodder, its power to withstand heavy stocking; and its usefulness as a change pasture from paspalwm. This grass is known as Kikuyu, and as there, are many farms on the Hauraki Plains with nothing but paspalum grass the article is reprinted for general information. Kikuyu appears to have merits of peculiar advantage to the Hauraki Plains, where the spread of tall fescue is a serious menace and where ordinary pastures are not sufficient!.' dense to hold cattle during the winter or keep the surface from cracking in the summer. The article says :

“The manner in which this grass produces an abundance of green fodder throughout the year, more especially during the warmer seasons, has been well demonstrated by the results obtained at Wollongb.w F.xpc-rininet. Farm, writes the Experimentalist ip a report in the ‘Agricultural Gazette.’

A pasture of Kikuyu was laid down in a prepared soil six years ago, and after being allowed to become established has been continuously grazed since. Tire pasture has always provided ample fodder; the grass has shown a marked ability t*o make fresh growth (so valuable for the milking herd), even under adverse conditions and much later into the winter than paspalum and other summer grasses. During last winter the, output of new growth' was unceasing, and even during a dry spell of over five weeks in July and August no noticeable falling off was observed.

“At the time of writing the grass covers the ground in a dense, mass to a depth of 15 inches in spite of heavy grazings. A conservative estimate of the carrying capacity of this pasture is three cows per acre. The pasture consists wholly of Kikuyu grass. The growth is so vigorous as to choke out all other plants.

AN INTERESTING COMPARISON. “Two years, ago roots of this grass were worked into an old paspalum pasture that had been ploughed, the roots being placed 6ft apart each. way. The pasture is now composed of 70 per cent. Kikuyu grass. The paspalum is being steadily crowded out, although it came through quickly after the ploughing. A

“An examination of the root development of this grass reveals its powers to withstand dry conditions and grazing and to make fresh growth rapidly. There is a dense mass of roots from five to six inches in thickness, individual roots penetrating to an even greater depth. To gain some idea of the root matter formed, a sod was removed from the pasture to a depth of five and a half inches, washed free of soil, dried, and weighed, and for purpose’s of comparison a sod of pasaplum was taken from ah equally stocked pasture and treated in a like manner. The. amounts of root matter to a depth of five and a half inches nda green fodder per acre were calculated as follows : —

“The grasses were cut with a scythe to ground level. POINTS OP SUPERIORITY. “It is not intended to convey the impression that this grass is extremely drought-resistent; it is not, but under North Coast conditions it is certainly superior to paspalum in its powers to resist frost and dry conditions and in yielding capacity. It is capable of carrying more stock per acre, and is at least as palatable. Dairy stock, after being grazed on Kikuyu grass for a few days, show si marked increase, in the milk yield, “In addition to its value to tne dairy farmer Kikuyu grass makes a good forage crop for pigs, and farmers have begun to plant roots in pig runs. It is a. grass with great possibilities, on account of the ea'-e with which it is propagated and the vigour of its growth. Working horses relish it, e.ating it so closely as to keep it almost like a lawn.”

Root Matter Green Fodder. t. c. at. c. q. Kikuyu 28 1 3 7 10 2 Pnspahim 26 0 0 3 17 0