The Seasonal Dry Matter Production and Carrying Capacity of Kikuyu Oversown With Ryegrass and Clover

The Seasonal Dry Matter Production and Carrying Capacity of Kikuyu Oversown With Ryegrass and Clover

In the main milk producing areas of the Southern Cape, kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) is considered an important summer and autumn pasture which is climatologically well adapted. The main problem experienced with kikuyu is that winter and spring production is low and the exclusion of legumes make it dependent of nitrogen fertiliser and that increases the input cost. The aim of the study was to quantify the seasonal dry matter (DM) yield and carrying capacity of kikuyu (K) through treatments involving kikuyu oversown with annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum spp.) (KR), kikuyu oversown with a mixture of perennial ryegrass (L. perenne) and perennial white (Trifolium repens) and red (Trifolium pratense) clovers (KRC) and kikuyu oversown with a mixture of only perennial white and red clovers (KC).