KIKUYU
| BOTANICAL NAME | Pennisetum clandestinum | |
| TYPE | Sub-tropical, Grass | |
| PRODUCTION PERIOD | Perennial, Summer | |
| MORPHOLOGICAL
DESCRIPTION |
Robust, creeping, prostate form, 0.3 – 0.4m tall | |
| Stoloniferous; rhizomatous | ||
| Leaf blades bright green to pale yellow, tapering to sub-obtuse tips, folded into a bud when young; 4.5 – 11.5cm x 6mm; sparsely and softly hairy | ||
| Flat and ovoid seeds; dark brown; 2.5 – 1.5mm; 400 000 seeds/kg | ||
| CROP | Strengths: | Rapid summer growth, responsive to good fertility |
| Productive under heavy grazing, high quality | ||
| Feeding value: | Crude protein: 10.7 – 23.7 % | |
| Production potential: | Dry matter production: 6 – 20 t/ha/annum | |
| Uses: | Permanent pasture, ground cover, amenity turf, irrigated pasture, hay and silage | |
| Soil requirements: | Prefers fertile loamy soil types with high organic matter content | |
| Tolerates low pH; moderate salinity; pH range of 4.5 – 8 | ||
| Establishment: | Plant during October – February | |
| Seeding rate at 5 kg/ha | ||
