Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T15:07:38.369Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Seasonal variation in the potential herbage production and response to nitrogen by kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. L. Colman  and
G. H. O'Neill
R. L. Colman
Affiliation:
New South Wales Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Centre, Wollongbar, New South Wales Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Centre, Wollongbar, N.S.W., Australia2480
G. H. O'Neill
Affiliation:
New South Wales Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Centre, Wollongbar, New South Wales Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Centre, Wollongbar, N.S.W., Australia2480
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The herbage production and response to nitrogen fertilizer by kikuyu grass were measured in a field experiment conducted over a 12-month period. The experiment was designed to measure the growth of kikuyu grass at different rates of application of nitrogen fertilizer but without limitation due to mineral nutrient supply other than nitrogen, soil pH effects of nitrogen fertilizer, defoliation and pests and diseases.

Growth rate and response to nitrogen were closely related to mean temperature and moisture supply. Relations were established between growth rate, nitrogen response and apparent nitrogen recovery and the climatic variables, mean temperature and mean available soil moisture in 14-day periods. With nitrogen applications of 224 kg N/ha the predicted growth rate at 13 and 23 °C mean temperature were 38 and 196 kg D.M./ha/day, respectively; with 112 kg N/ha growth rate at the higher temperature was 106 kg D.M./ha/day. Growth and response to nitrogen ceased at mean temperatures around 10 °C.

Apparent recovery of nitrogen in harvested herbage over a 16-week growth period after nitrogen application was 51%; recovery in the first 4 weeks of growth varied from 1 to 56 % depending on temperature and moisture supply.

Relations between growth rate and mean temperature were used to predict the seasonal growth pattern for a range of environments in which yield data for the species are available. The results indicate the potential for high annual dry-matter production from kikuyu grass when adequately supplied with nitrogen and moisture is nonlimiting. The grass is also adapted for growth and survival in areas ranging from moist sub-tropical to cool-temperate.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 91 , Issue 1 , August 1978 , pp. 81 - 90
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Birch, W. R. (1959). High altitude ley agronomy in Kenya. 1. Observations on the climate and soil. East African Agricultural Journal 25, 35–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bryan, W. W. & Sharpe, J. P. (1965). The effect of urea and cutting treatments on the production of Pangola grass in south-east Queensland. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 5, 433–441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Colman, R. L. (1964). Nitrogen fertilization of Paspalum dilatatum in relation to the feed requirements of dairy cattle on the north coast of New South Wales. M.Sc.Agr. Thesis, University of Syndey.Google Scholar
Colman, R. L. & Kaiser, A. G. (1974). The effect of stocking rate on milk production from kikuyu grass pastures fertilized with nitrogen. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 14, 155–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, J. P. (1970). Potential production and energy conversion in temperate and tropical grasses. Herbage Abstracts 40, 1–15.Google Scholar
Cooper, J. P. & Tainton, N. M. (1968). Light and temperature requirements for the growth of tropical and temperate grasses. Herbage Abstracts 38, 167–176.Google Scholar
Forde, B. J., Slack, C. R., Roughan, P. G. & Whitehead, H. C. M. (1976). Growth of tropical and temperate grasses at Palmerston North. 1. Warm-season yields with and without irrigation. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 19, 135–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gartner, J. A. & Everett, M. L. (1970). Effects of fertilizer nitrogen on a dense sward of kikuyu, paspalum and carpet grass. 3. Nitrogen source. Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Sciences 27, 73–87.Google Scholar
Garwood, E. A. & Williams, T. E. (1967). Growth, water use and nutrient uptake from the subsoil by grass swards. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 69, 125–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henzell, E. F. (1971). Recovery of nitrogen from four fertilizers applied to Rhodes grass in small plots. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 11, 420–430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ivory, D. A. (1976). The effect of temperature on the growth of tropical pasture grasses. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 42, 113–114.Google Scholar
Kemp, D. R. (1975). The growth of three tropical pasture grasses on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 15, 637–644.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kemp, D. R. (1976). The influence of cutting frequency and nitrogen fertilizer on the growth of kikuyu grass. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 16, 382–386.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mears, P. T. (1970). Kikuyu – (Pennisetum clandestinum) as a pasture grass. A review. Tropical Qrasslands 4, 139–152.Google Scholar
Mears, P. T. & Humphreys, L. R. (1974). Nitrogen response and stocking rate of Pennisetum clandestinum pastures. 1. Pasture nitrogen requirement and concentration, distribution of dry matter and botanical composition. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 83, 451–467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morrison, J. (1966). The effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and cultivation on the productivity of kikuyu grass at high altitudes in Kenya. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal 31, 291–297.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murtagh, G. J. (1975). Environmental effects on the short-term response of tropical grasses to nitrogen fertilizer. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 15, 679–688.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murtagh, G. J. (1978). The effect of evaporative demand on the growth of well-watered kikuyu. Agricultural Meteorology (in the Press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, A. O., Rowley, J. A. & Hunt, B. J. (1976). Potential of new summer grasses in Northland. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 19, 127–133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whitehead, D. C. (1970). The role of nitrogen in grassland productivity. Commonwealth Bureau of Pastures and Field Crops, Bulletin 48. 104–118.Google Scholar
Whitney, A. S. (1974). Growth of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) under clipping. 1. Effects of nitrogen fertilization, cutting interval, and season on yields and forage characteristics. Agronomy Journal 66, 281–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar