The production of four ryegrass cultivars oversown at various seeding rates into irrigated kikuyu

Abstract

An irrigated kikuyu pasture was oversown, in late March, with four ryegrass cultivars at four seeding rates at Cedara (Natal Mistbelt) and n'Tabamhlope (Highland Sourveld). The oversowing procedure shows promise with the cultivars producing well at both sites. There were no significant increases in dry matter yield from seeding rates greater than 30 kg ha⁻¹ . Oversowing at Cedara provided some winter dry matter production, whereas dry matter production at n'Tabamhlope commenced only in August. Kikuyu regrowth was suppressed, especially in January, but appeared to recover its yield potential by March.

Besproeide kikoejoe is teen einde Maart met vier raaigras cultivars, teen vier saaidigthede, by Cedara (Natalse Misgor‐del) en n'Tabamhlope (Hoogland Suurveld) oorgesaai. Die prosedure toon belofte, met goeie produksie by beide lokaliteite. Daar was geen betekenisvolle toename in droemateriaalopbrengs teen saaidigthede bo 30 kg ha⁻¹ nie. Oorsaai het wel droëmateriaalproduksie in die winter by Cedara teweeggebring, maar droëmateriaalproduksie by n'Tabamhlope het eers in Augustus ‘n aanvang geneem. Kikoejoe hergroei is onderdruk, veral in Januarie, maar opbrengspotensiaal is klaarblyklik teen Maart herwin.

Additional index words:

• Lolium multiflorum
• Pennisetum clandestinum