Good Grass For Grazing.

[Exnavy]

I want to convert an area of land into grazing land for cattle. Can anybody recommend a type of fast growing grass suitable for this, which will also survive the extremes of Thai weather?

[WhisperingJack]

<H2 align=center>Green panic

(Panicum maximum var. trichoglume) </H2>

• short clump grass
  
• subtropical
  
• fairly drought tolerant
  
• responsive to showers of rain
  
• combines well with twining legumes.
  

Green panic is a variety of guinea grass, and is sold as Petrie green panic.

It has fine soft leaves, slender stems growing to 1.5 m, and a richly branched root system that allows allowing rapid growth after light showers. The stem is hairy compared to the smooth stems of Gatton panic. Despite having a concentration of roots near the soil surface, green panic shows good drought resistance and survives well in situations where rhodes grass dies out. It can grow in areas down to 550 mm annual rainfall, but also in wet coastal or tableland areas receiving over 1,700 mm annual rainfall. It has some shade tolerance, and is often found growing under trees or shrubs, even under lantana.

Green panic's soil requirements are versatile. It grows best on friable softwood scrub loams, and on self-mulching grey and brown soils of heavy texture, including most brigalow soils, but it is not really at home on deep sands or on the wide-cracking, heavier black clays of the Darling Downs. It is very responsive to nutrients and yellow foliage is a good indication of nitrogen deficiency.

Green panic is very palatable and is usually grazed preferentially in a mixed sward; spelling may maintain sward vigour. Sparse stands will thicken up if allowed to seed, and a damaged stand will regenerate from natural seeding.

Green panic combines well with lucerne in subtropical areas, and with glycine and green-leaf desmodium to form very productive dairying or fattening pastures. Seed of green panic and Gatton panic are sometimes not differentiated in New South Wales.

Suggest you do a Google search - Pastures Tropical

[mixedbreed]

Do a search for Ruzzi and Guinea grass on this site. This is the most common that is available in Thailand.

[ozzydom]

As mixedbreed states,Ruzzi (Lucy grass ) and guinea are the most used fodder grasses , however, Ruzzi dies off as soon as the dry season arrives and unless you have a large area ,Guinea is mainly a cut and carry crop.

If you have a large area and irrigation available,then strip cropping Guinea is the go , as you move your confinement fence ,just apply fertilizer and irrigate the cropped area and it will be back to grazing height in about 6 weeks. The alternative is to plant in hilled rows and after you cut a couple of rows water and fertilize to promote new growth.

Guinea grass planted as such will provide large amounts of fodder.

[Exnavy]

Many thanks to you all for your feedback.