Track 1-07: Prospects for Management to Increase Grassland and Forage Productivity

Description

Irrigated mixed pastures of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) over-sown with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in the cool-season (May-October) can produce large amounts of biomass in a sub-tropical environment (Botha et al. 2008). However, appropriate pasture management practices are required to suppress the aggressive growth of kikuyu prior to autumn, in order to facilitate establishment of ryegrass seedlings.

The present study evaluated ryegrass establishment techniques on the dry matter (DM) production, botanical composition and forage quality of a mixed sward containing kikuyu.

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Establishment Techniques to Increase the Production of Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) Over-Sown into an Irrigated Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) Pasture

Irrigated mixed pastures of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) over-sown with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in the cool-season (May-October) can produce large amounts of biomass in a sub-tropical environment (Botha et al. 2008). However, appropriate pasture management practices are required to suppress the aggressive growth of kikuyu prior to autumn, in order to facilitate establishment of ryegrass seedlings.

The present study evaluated ryegrass establishment techniques on the dry matter (DM) production, botanical composition and forage quality of a mixed sward containing kikuyu.