Egerton University: Education for the Advancement of Humanity

1. Rhodes Grass (Click for More Information)
2. Forage Sorghum (Click for More Information)  
3. Leguminous Grasses (Click for More Information)

1. RHODES GRASSS (chloris gayana)

• Rhodes grass is the most important pasture grass in Kenya due to its ease in establishment and management.
• Optimum pasture management practices ensure consistent high milk production all year round.

BOMA RHODES

• Was selected from an older variety called Masaba Rhodes.
• An improved variety with softer and excellent herbage.
• Is slow growing and therefore suited for lower stocking rates.
• Tends to give bottom tillers and is drought tolerant.
• Forms a thick grass matt and is very popular in the medium altitudes.

ELMBA RHODES  

• Originated from Uganda and is an improved selection from Mbarara Rhodes.
• Is a fast growing variety with excellent soft herbage and strong seedling vigour.
• Is situated for a wide range of climatic conditions, though it does best in light and sandy soils.

COLOURED GUINEA (Panicum colorutum)

• Is a tufted perennial.
• During the early seedling stage, it tends to have wide curly leaves with slightly wrinkled edges.
• Has good herbage quality.
• Can withstand sever water logging.
• Can persist in black cotton soils.
• Thrives well in a wide range of rainfall regimes and remains green into the dry weather

NANDI SETARIA (Setaria sphacelata)

• It’s a tufted perennial suitable for the high altitude high rainfall areas.
• Good for dairy animals.

CONGO SIGNAL (Brachiaria ruziziensis)

• Is a short leafed perennial which forms a thick mat of leaves not more than 20-40cm high .The thicker cover supports high stocking rates.
• Does well in warm, wet climates. It requires high fertility and moisture regimes and high phosphate and nitrogen levels.
• Is persistent and competes with natural grasses.
• Can be utilized as lawn grass and for erosion control measure.

2. FORAGE SORGHUMS  

• Forage sorghums are mainly use for grazing but can also be ensiled.
• These sorghums when used for silage have an advantage over maize in that they produce      a large bulk of high quality hay which with good husbandry can be cut several times in a season.

Sudan Grass

• Is a quick growing annual with a small stem and thin leaves.
• Is very palatable with relatively low production potential.
• It is useful as cheap short term weather feed.

Columbus Grass

• Is a slow growing biennial crop with broader leaves, which under good husbandry practices can be cut for two consecutive years without reduction in palatability.

 Velvet Sorghum

• Is a large, broad –leafed plant which is slower growing but more persistent than Columbus grass.
• It is a less productive than other sorghums but will produce large quantities of dry matter over a long period.

3. LEGUMINOUS GRASSES

Desmond Uniciatum (Silver leaf)

• Thrives well in all altitudes of (0-300m asl)
• The seed rate is 3kg/acre.
• Straight fertilizer can be used at a rate of 50kgs per acre.
• Can be interplanted with nippier grass.

Lucerne

• Is one of the most valuable crops suitable for all classes of livestock and mainly used as a protein supplement.
• This crop is rich in crude protein and calcium.
• Under ideal soil, moisture and management conditions it can last for 3-5 years.
• It has a very deep root system hence resistant to drought.
• Does best in a fairy dry atmosphere and grows rapidly in warm months slowing down as temperatures drop.
• Grows best in altitude of 1000-3000 asl.The seed rate is 5kg acre drilled in rows 30cm apart.