Other Crops Growing Rhodes Grass

[Gcube]

Please me on how can start to grow Rhodes grass

 

[Alfred Opiyo]

Please me on how can start to grow Rhodes grass

@Gcube here below is a guide and requirements on how to grow Boma Rhodes grass.

1.Land preparation: with assumption that you've identified the site but if not it's important to select a virgin land or a land predominantly covered by natural grass this is important since it will help in weed (broad leaved) easily and at -least- cost possible.
- Land preparation should be done during dry spell to improve aeration, eradication of other stubborn weeds and weed seeds. Two or more repeat harrowing is required to achieve finest tilth (soil particles) as possible- this will increase soil - seed contact hence higher germination possibility.

2. Planting and fertilizer application
After land preparation is done, at the onset of rain/first rains planting is done by making drills 30 cm a part mechanically by tractor mounted planter calibrated or by hand using sharp pointed stick planting string/line. Drilled lines should a bout 3-5 cm deep. Compaction after planting is necessary to keep seeds in place avoiding being carried by wind or running surface water flow. This can a achieved by dragging heavy branches of trees or just a tractor.
Seed rate per acre is 4-5 kgs
For fertilizer/manure, you will need 10tonnes of well decomposed manure per Ha. applied during land preparation and incorporated properly
For industrial fertilizer, NPK 17:17:17 or any other compound fertilizer e.g Mavuno planting can be used during planting drilled a alongside seeds required quantity is 100 kgs/acre. C
A.N application, for you to get quality pasture with a good leaf: stem ratio,C.A.N application is paramount, due to it's high rate of volatility, leaching and utilization by the crop you need 100kgs per acre application in two splits. The first application three weeks after planting and germination second batch applied two months just before showing signs of flowering. C.A.N can be applied by broadcasting
NB. C.A.N is integral for high foliage formation therefore can not be overlooked.

3.Weeds Management:- depending on intensity you can use manual hand pulling of broad leaved weeds if few or apply selective post emergence herbicide to kill broad leaved weeds only.

4.Harvesting, bailing and storage: Assuming all goes well I.e good rainfall, good weed management, timely fertilizer application, harvesting should be well timed at flowering/blooming stage @50% flowers this is when there's higher nutritional content with crude proteins at its peak and stem to leaf ratio is optimum.
At the time of harvesting there should be a clear weather of at least 3 consecutive days to allow proper drying with recommended moisture levels this will discourage moulding and rotting which definitely comprises quality of hay. Over drying should also be avoided, the harvested should dry maintaining its green color, baled and stored in damp free storage facility, leak proof and free from any possible contaminants e.g used oils.

AFTER EVERY HARVESTING A NITROGENOUS FERTILIZER IS RECOMMENDED SAME RATE AS INDICATED A BOVE.

BEST TIME FOR SOWING GRASS SEEDS IS EARLY AT THE BEGINNING OF A LONG RAIN SEASON OR DURING THE SHORT RAINS SEASON.

BOMA RHODES PASTURE CAN BE ESTABLISHED AS PURE STAND (ALONE IN THE FIELD ) NOT INTERCROPPED OR AS UNDER CROP ( PLANTED INTERCROPPED AT A CERTAIN STAGE OF MAIN CROP LIKE MAIZE) AND WHEN MAIZE IS HARVESTED GRASSES REMAIN STANDING.

I hope this piece will help you.
Thanks

 

[Jane n]

What is the input/ out put? Am interested in farming it.

 

[Alfred Opiyo]

What is the input/ out put? Am interested in farming it.

Hi Jane input requirements are given here above for one acre and these figures will some how have a constant change depending on scale of production though economies of scale may help reduce operational/ variable input costs. Output similarly may behave also in a similar curve. Practical figures recorded in other areas are averaging between 250-300 bales per acre /harvest with possible two harvests per year for three years production. A bale sells at minimum 200-max 350/=