Typical yield
25.3 t/ha
Varieties
3
Pest/Disease
4
Seasons
2
Profile
- Growth habit
- perennial
- Lifecycle (days)
- 120–365
- Primary uses
- Forage grass for cut-and-carry, pasture, hay/silage
- Pollination
- wind
- Origin / distribution
- Tropical Africa & South America; widely adopted in East Africa
Environment
Climate
Temp optimal
20–30 °C
Rain optimal
700–1500 mm/yr
Altitude
0–2000 m
Soil
pH optimal
5.5–6.8
Soil type
Well-drained loam to sandy loam; tolerates low fertility with management
Farmer Guide
Row spacing
50 cm
Plant spacing
50 cm
Depth
2 cm
Seed rate
6 kg/ha
Nursery days
Planting: Plant at onset of rains. For splits, plant 1–2 tillers per station in moist soil; for seed, drill/shallow cover and firm soil. Control weeds during establishment.
Transplanting: Not typical; use vegetative splits or direct seeding.
Irrigation: Ensure moisture during establishment and after each cut; avoid waterlogging.
Fertigation: If irrigated, supply N in small doses after cuts to boost regrowth.
Pest scouting: Scout for spittlebugs and leaf spots; maintain field hygiene and balanced nutrition.
Pruning/Training: Cut at 15–20 cm stubble to protect crowns and encourage tillering.
Harvest: First cut ~8–10 weeks after establishment; subsequent cuts every 4–6 weeks at 30–40 cm height or early boot stage.
Postharvest: For hay, wilt to ~85% DM before baling. For silage, chop 2–3 cm and ensile at ~30–35% DM.
Nutrient Schedule
| # | Stage | DAP | Product | Rate | Targets (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basal (at planting) | 0 | DAP 18-46-0 | 60 kg/ha | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Band or broadcast & incorporate lightly |
| 2 | After 1st cut | 60 | CAN 26% N | 80 kg/ha | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Irrigate or apply on wet soil to reduce loss |
| 3 | After subsequent cuts | 100 | CAN 26% N + MOP | 80 kg/ha + 40 kg/ha | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Adjust to biomass removal and soil tests |
Nutrient Requirements
| Nutrient | Stage | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | Basal | 20 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Basal | 25 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Basal | 30 | kg/ha |
| N | Topdress | 40 | kg/ha |
| N | Maintenance | 40 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Maintenance | 30 | kg/ha |
Images
| Name | Country | Maturity | Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulato II | KE | 150 | High quality forage |
| Mulato II (Urochloa hybrid) | KE | 90 | Tolerant to spittlebugs; high DM yield; good regrowth |
| Cayman (BR02/1794) | KE | 90 | High yield; drought tolerance; good quality |
| Stage | Product | Rate (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basal | DAP 18-46-0 | 60 | Reduce if soil P is high |
| After cut | CAN 26% N | 80 | Apply after rains or light irrigation |
| After cut | MOP (KCl) | 40 | Support stand persistence and disease tolerance |
| Name | Type | Symptoms | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spittlebugs | pest | Foamy masses; yellowing | Resistant cultivars; grazing management |
| Spittlebugs (Aeneolamia/Zulia spp.) | pest | Foamy masses, yellowing, stunting | Use tolerant cultivars (e.g., Mulato II); maintain stand vigor; spot treatments if severe |
| Armyworms (sporadic) | pest | Leaf defoliation | Early detection; targeted control if thresholds exceeded |
| Leaf spot / blight | disease | Necrotic lesions reducing leaf area | Avoid dense shade; balanced K; timely cutting and residue management |
| System | Typical | Min | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pasture/cut | 40 | 20 | 70 | Fresh biomass/year |
| rainfed cut-and-carry | 14 | 8 | 20 | Annual biomass (DM) across multiple cuts |
| irrigated/intensive | 22 | 15 | 30 | Annual biomass (DM) with good fertility |
| Country | Region | Planting | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| KE | High- & mid-altitudes (long rains) | Mar–Apr | First cut May–Jun; then 4–6 wk intervals |
| KE | High- & mid-altitudes (short rains) | Oct–Nov | First cut Dec–Jan; then 4–6 wk intervals |
| Country | Region | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| KE | Dairy belts | High |
| KE | Highlands & mid-altitudes | High |
| KE | Waterlogged valleys | Low |
| TZ | Northern & Lake zones | High |
| UG | Central & Western | High |