CRS 443 PASTURES AND FODDER CROPS NOTES
Introduction
Forage refers to crops grown for the purpose of feeding livestock. They are classified in two
categories: Pastures and fodders.
Pastures are forage crops cultivated on a piece of land or are naturally growing; animals graze on
them directly. Most grasses fall in this category. Fodder crops refer to forages grown on a piece
of land, harvested and fed to livestock; animals don’t graze on fodder crops. Examples of fodder
crops are: Napier grass, Guatemala grass, Sorghum, Lucerne, Kenya white clover, Desmodium,
manigold, Leucaena, calliandra, corn, Sesbania, Grevillea, some species of Acacia, and many
more.
Pure stand pastures are pasture crops grown as one type only (either grasses or legumes) in the
field. If the stand consists of grasses, a pure stand could consist of different grass species or only
a single species, and the same applies to legume pure stand. Mixed pastures consist of
leguminous crops and grass crops growing in the same field. Natural pastures grow without
human intervention, while artificial pastures are planted by man. They are also referred to as
pasture leys.
Establishment and Management of Pasture Leys
Farmers in areas with annual rainfall of 900mm could plant the following:
Boma Rhodes, Elmba Rhodes, Masaba Rhodes, Mbarara Rhodes, Nasiwa seteria, Nandi setaria,
Coloured guinea or Congo signal
There are three methods of pasture establishment:
o Direct sowing
o Under sowing
o Over sowing
Direct Sowing:
This is the establishment of pasture grasses without a nurse or cover crop. A nurse or cover crop
is grown together with the pasture for economical land use. It is harvested earlier to leave the
pasture alone in the field. It consists of sowing seed in a fine, firm and weed-free seedbed.
Pasture should be sown into land that has been under crop for 2 or more years.
Seedbed preparation
On previously cropped land, plough towards the end of the proceeding rainy season. This is
followed by dry season ploughing and harrowing for weed control. On virgin land, 3 ploughings
and 2 harrowings may be required to make a good seedbed.
When and how to sow
Sow as early in the rainy season as possible. In bimodal rainfall areas sowing is preferred in the
short rains so that annual weeds are soon eliminated.
1
,Making furrows, hand drilling and covering seed with tree branches
Seeds should be sown close to the surface in order to get in contact with moist soil so as to
enhance germination. Seeds should not be buried deeply since initial vigour is not sufficient to
push through a heavy cap of soil.
Grass seeds can either be broadcasted or drilled in rows 30-40 cm apart. Mix the seeds with saw-
dust, rough sand or phosphate fertilizer for even distribution. If the seed is mixed with the
fertilizer, planting should be done immediately to prevent scorching of seed by the fertilizer.
Sowing of grass seeds is effectively done with a wheat drill. Hand sowing is recommended for
smaller acreages where close supervision and attention to details is possible.
Immediately after sowing, the seedbed should be compacted to enhance germination of the grass
seed by improving contact with the soil. This can be done by use of tree branches or even by
trampling by foot on small plots. In mechanized farms a roller can be used.
Fertilizer used at planting
Use phosphate fertilizer or farmyard manure at planting to promote strong root development. The
recommended fertilizer rates are:-
a) Single Superphosphate (SSP) 2 - 4 bags/ha
b) Triple Superphosphate (TSP) 1 - 2 bags/ha
c) Diamonium phosphate (DAP) 1 - 2 bags/ha – used when rains are sufficient
d) Farmyard manure (10 tons/ha) - broadcasted and harrowed in before planting.
Undersowing:
This is the establishment of pastures under a nurse or a cover crop. In this method, the cover or
nurse crop is harvested after maturity and the pasture left for 2 to 3 years.
The following points should be borne in mind for successful undersowing:-
Broadcast or drill pasture seed mixed with fertilizer three days after planting wheat or
barley (if they are the nurse crops).
Where maize is the nurse crop, pasture seed mixed with phosphate fertilizer is
broadcasted in maize field after the second weeding (4-5weeks after planting )
After the nurse crop is harvested remove stovers and straws and then cut back the weeds. During
the establishment year, do not graze so that grass is not uprooted by the livestock.
Oversowing:
This is the establishment of an improved pasture species into a natural grassland e.g. non-
ploughable land. The technique improves the quality of the natural pasture by introducing high
quality herbage forage.
Oversowing can be done in two ways
i) Overgraze the natural pasture field then broadcast the improved pasture species (grass or
a legume seed).
2
, ii) Overgraze the natural pasture field then harrow or ox-plough or hand hoe and broadcast
the improved pasture species (grass or legume seed).
The steps involved are as follows:
o Seed of improved species are mixed with fertilizer and broadcasted on the overgrazed
area at the rate of 10kg grass seed or 2-3kg of legume seed (Desmodium or Stylosanthes)
with 1-2 bags of Triple superphosphate (TSP) or 2-4 of Single superphosphate (SSP) per
hectare
o Graze heavily for one or two days to ensure that seeds come in contact with soil due to
cattle trampling, then remove the livestock from the field to allow the new species to
establish.
o During establishment year graze lightly to avoid grass being uprooted.
How to manage the pasture
Things to look into are:-
a) Weed control
b) Grazing management
c) Fertility management
Weed control
Weeds can reduce the productivity of the sown pastures particularly during the establishment
year. Therefore:-
o Control weeds during the first year by either (a) hand weeding or (b) by use of herbicide
(2, 4-D Amine at the rate of 2.5 litres per ha).
o In subsequent years, fields should be kept clean by slashing, hand pulling or mowing of
weeds.
PASTURE GRASSES
Setaria spp
Genus setaria includes more than 100 species
Adaptation
Setaria is widespread in East Africa, mainly in humid zone II. It can grow in altitudes ranging
from sea level to 3000m. It grows in Kikuyu and star grass zones. It can grow well under humid
conditions. It does not tolerate alkalinity or salinity. It tolerates light frosts, and its natural
occurrence is at altitude of 2500M above the sea level. Occasionally, it does well in altitudes of
3000M above the sea level. On or near the equator, Nandi setaria produces flowering heads
during active growth throughout the year. Setaria can withstand seasonal water logging. It has no
tolerance to alkalinity or salinity, but can tolerate light frost. Nandi setaria is susceptible to fire
damage.
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Introduction
Forage refers to crops grown for the purpose of feeding livestock. They are classified in two
categories: Pastures and fodders.
Pastures are forage crops cultivated on a piece of land or are naturally growing; animals graze on
them directly. Most grasses fall in this category. Fodder crops refer to forages grown on a piece
of land, harvested and fed to livestock; animals don’t graze on fodder crops. Examples of fodder
crops are: Napier grass, Guatemala grass, Sorghum, Lucerne, Kenya white clover, Desmodium,
manigold, Leucaena, calliandra, corn, Sesbania, Grevillea, some species of Acacia, and many
more.
Pure stand pastures are pasture crops grown as one type only (either grasses or legumes) in the
field. If the stand consists of grasses, a pure stand could consist of different grass species or only
a single species, and the same applies to legume pure stand. Mixed pastures consist of
leguminous crops and grass crops growing in the same field. Natural pastures grow without
human intervention, while artificial pastures are planted by man. They are also referred to as
pasture leys.
Establishment and Management of Pasture Leys
Farmers in areas with annual rainfall of 900mm could plant the following:
Boma Rhodes, Elmba Rhodes, Masaba Rhodes, Mbarara Rhodes, Nasiwa seteria, Nandi setaria,
Coloured guinea or Congo signal
There are three methods of pasture establishment:
o Direct sowing
o Under sowing
o Over sowing
Direct Sowing:
This is the establishment of pasture grasses without a nurse or cover crop. A nurse or cover crop
is grown together with the pasture for economical land use. It is harvested earlier to leave the
pasture alone in the field. It consists of sowing seed in a fine, firm and weed-free seedbed.
Pasture should be sown into land that has been under crop for 2 or more years.
Seedbed preparation
On previously cropped land, plough towards the end of the proceeding rainy season. This is
followed by dry season ploughing and harrowing for weed control. On virgin land, 3 ploughings
and 2 harrowings may be required to make a good seedbed.
When and how to sow
Sow as early in the rainy season as possible. In bimodal rainfall areas sowing is preferred in the
short rains so that annual weeds are soon eliminated.
1
,Making furrows, hand drilling and covering seed with tree branches
Seeds should be sown close to the surface in order to get in contact with moist soil so as to
enhance germination. Seeds should not be buried deeply since initial vigour is not sufficient to
push through a heavy cap of soil.
Grass seeds can either be broadcasted or drilled in rows 30-40 cm apart. Mix the seeds with saw-
dust, rough sand or phosphate fertilizer for even distribution. If the seed is mixed with the
fertilizer, planting should be done immediately to prevent scorching of seed by the fertilizer.
Sowing of grass seeds is effectively done with a wheat drill. Hand sowing is recommended for
smaller acreages where close supervision and attention to details is possible.
Immediately after sowing, the seedbed should be compacted to enhance germination of the grass
seed by improving contact with the soil. This can be done by use of tree branches or even by
trampling by foot on small plots. In mechanized farms a roller can be used.
Fertilizer used at planting
Use phosphate fertilizer or farmyard manure at planting to promote strong root development. The
recommended fertilizer rates are:-
a) Single Superphosphate (SSP) 2 - 4 bags/ha
b) Triple Superphosphate (TSP) 1 - 2 bags/ha
c) Diamonium phosphate (DAP) 1 - 2 bags/ha – used when rains are sufficient
d) Farmyard manure (10 tons/ha) - broadcasted and harrowed in before planting.
Undersowing:
This is the establishment of pastures under a nurse or a cover crop. In this method, the cover or
nurse crop is harvested after maturity and the pasture left for 2 to 3 years.
The following points should be borne in mind for successful undersowing:-
Broadcast or drill pasture seed mixed with fertilizer three days after planting wheat or
barley (if they are the nurse crops).
Where maize is the nurse crop, pasture seed mixed with phosphate fertilizer is
broadcasted in maize field after the second weeding (4-5weeks after planting )
After the nurse crop is harvested remove stovers and straws and then cut back the weeds. During
the establishment year, do not graze so that grass is not uprooted by the livestock.
Oversowing:
This is the establishment of an improved pasture species into a natural grassland e.g. non-
ploughable land. The technique improves the quality of the natural pasture by introducing high
quality herbage forage.
Oversowing can be done in two ways
i) Overgraze the natural pasture field then broadcast the improved pasture species (grass or
a legume seed).
2
, ii) Overgraze the natural pasture field then harrow or ox-plough or hand hoe and broadcast
the improved pasture species (grass or legume seed).
The steps involved are as follows:
o Seed of improved species are mixed with fertilizer and broadcasted on the overgrazed
area at the rate of 10kg grass seed or 2-3kg of legume seed (Desmodium or Stylosanthes)
with 1-2 bags of Triple superphosphate (TSP) or 2-4 of Single superphosphate (SSP) per
hectare
o Graze heavily for one or two days to ensure that seeds come in contact with soil due to
cattle trampling, then remove the livestock from the field to allow the new species to
establish.
o During establishment year graze lightly to avoid grass being uprooted.
How to manage the pasture
Things to look into are:-
a) Weed control
b) Grazing management
c) Fertility management
Weed control
Weeds can reduce the productivity of the sown pastures particularly during the establishment
year. Therefore:-
o Control weeds during the first year by either (a) hand weeding or (b) by use of herbicide
(2, 4-D Amine at the rate of 2.5 litres per ha).
o In subsequent years, fields should be kept clean by slashing, hand pulling or mowing of
weeds.
PASTURE GRASSES
Setaria spp
Genus setaria includes more than 100 species
Adaptation
Setaria is widespread in East Africa, mainly in humid zone II. It can grow in altitudes ranging
from sea level to 3000m. It grows in Kikuyu and star grass zones. It can grow well under humid
conditions. It does not tolerate alkalinity or salinity. It tolerates light frosts, and its natural
occurrence is at altitude of 2500M above the sea level. Occasionally, it does well in altitudes of
3000M above the sea level. On or near the equator, Nandi setaria produces flowering heads
during active growth throughout the year. Setaria can withstand seasonal water logging. It has no
tolerance to alkalinity or salinity, but can tolerate light frost. Nandi setaria is susceptible to fire
damage.
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