Augustus 2014
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ON FARM LEVEL
Conservationagriculture
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CONSERVATIONAGRICULTURE
1: Abluebuffalograss seedhead.
2: Agood standof bluebuffalograss.
3:Well-fertilisedbluebuffalograss.
4: CultivarGayndah (left) andMolopo (right).
5: Bluebuffalograss foggage.
6: Erosion control.
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Pelleted seed can be planted at seeding rates of 5 kg/ha - 8 kg/ha. A
very important determinant for the successful establishment of blue
buffalograss is themethodused to establish thegrass.
The threemethods used for establishment are:
Broadcast seeding: Thismethod is suggestedwhendense plant
populationsare required, especiallyareas that are tobe irrigated
or in areaswhere the soil fertility and rainfall is high.
Row planting: Thismethod is recommended for areas with low
rainfall and when the field has a low production potential. The
distance between rows will differ according to environmental
conditions. In an area where the rainfall ranges between
400 mm - 550 mm, row spacing can be as much as 2 000 mm,
while in an area with a rainfall of 600 mm and higher, the row
spacing can be 750 mm. A maize planter, the tractor wheel
methodor a speciallydesignedbluebuffalograssplanter canbe
used to establish the grass. This seed should never be planted
deeper than 5 mm, as it will delay germination and negatively
influence establishment.
Planting of root cuttings: Blue buffalo grass can also be planted
using root cuttings. Use cuttings that have three to four active
buds. Plant the root cuttings in a sufficiently moist soil, and
ensure that the soil around the cutting is consolidated properly.
Toplant 1ha, twenty to thirty 50 kgbagswill be required.
The fertilisation of blue buffalo grass needs to be aligned with the
amount of moisture received. For instance, in the drier western
and northern parts of the country, where low rainfall is evident, it is
critical that fertilisation rates are adapted.
Bluebuffalograsses’ popularityhas increasedandcanoftenbeseen
in thecentral andeasternpartsof thecountry, especially theLowveld
regions along the roadside. The fertilisation rates will therefore be
determinedby rainfall and fertiliser prices.
