MANUAL ON IMPROVED FEEDING OF DAIRY CATTLE BY ... - Gart

10.1 Grasses
l Rhodes Grass
Rhodes grass is tolerant to a wide range of soils, from light sandy to
clays. But it will not withstand water logging. It provides excellent first
season grazing and hay. But yields in subsequent seasons decline if it
is not fertilized and weeded. Replanting is necessary after about 3 to 5
years.
FIGURE 12: A nice field of Rhodes grass starting to flower
Establishment:
The grass is established from seed. It can be sown in rows of 0.5 to 1.0
m apart or be broadcasted at a rate of 3 to 7 kg seeds per hectare. Fresh
seed is best stored for a period of 6 months before planting.
The seed should be sawn at most 1 cm deep. The seedbed should be
lightly rolled if it is drilled and harrowed or swept over (using branches)
lightly if it is broadcasted. In this way the seeds are not pushed too deep
into the soil. Sowing should not take place until the rains are well
established.
Fertilizer:
To increase the growth of the grass and to improve its quality, the crop
has to be supported by either use of artificial fertilizers or cattle manure
and/or compost. Since the cost of fertilizer in Zambia is prohibitive,
smallholder dairy farmers are advised to apply as much cattle manure
as possible into their field. This should be applied before planting and in
the dry season, once the crop has established well. A topdressing of D
compound at the rate of 100 kg per hectare is recommended.
Management:
New stands of Rhodes grass should be allowed to set seed before
cutting, especially if the stand was poorly established. Manual weeding
can be carried out in the month of December/January. Peak grass
production is usually obtained in the first two seasons. Thereafter it is
recommended to allow the stand to flower, set and shed seed before
harvest. After 3 to 5 years it is best to plough and replant.
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Manual on improved feeding of Dairy Cattle by Smallholder Farmers