“ LAREDO Buffelgrass”

(Pennisetum ciliaris L.)

 

Laredo Buffelgrass is a highly nutritious grass and is considered excellent for pasture in hot, dry areas and is valued for its production of palatable forage and intermittent grazing during drought periods especially in dry land areas.

 

It is easy to cultivate and low cost of establishment, comparatively high value and yield, extreme drought tolerance, stand persistence, and tolerance to crop pests, overgrazing and trampling by livestock. It is cultivated for permanent pastures. The only disease problem has been leaf blight (Pyricularia grisea).  But the hybrid, LAREDO was bred to be resistant to this disease and none has ever been detected in the recently developed LARADO buffelgrass.

 

Protein percentage:

11% per 100 grams

Seed Rate:

3-4 kg / Hac. ( hulled seed )

8-10 kg / Hac.(unhulled seed)

Sowing depth:

1 – 2 cm

Sowing Time:

April to August when soil temperature at night is not less than 20oC. Seed should be mixed with fine soil ( hulled seed ) and broadcast.

Fertilization:

200-300 kg / Hac DAP before sowing 50 -75 kg Urea / Hac in 4-5 installment through irrigation water.

Harvesting:

With adequate moisture and fertilizer grass can be cut and use after 4-8 months after sowing and subsequent cutting at every 40-60 days.

Yields:

Total annual yields of green fodder 34–56 MT/ha in three to four cuttings.

In American university tests, LAREDO, has out yield other buffelgrass varieties by 30-50 percent.

 

South Texas Forage Comparisons: