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Distribution
Native to the southern United States, Mexico and Brazil. Now introduced into most
tropical and subtropical countries, especially west tropical Africa, South Africa, India,
the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia and the Pacific islands.
Season of growth
A summer-growing perennial very similar in needs to A. affinis.
Rainfall requirements
Higher than for A. affinis, with about 775 mm minimum. In Trinidad it needs 40 cm of
rain between January and May (Gumbs & Shastry, 1978).
Drought tolerance
Less tolerant of dry conditions than A. affinis.
Soil requirements
It prefers moist sandy soil throughout the year, a little more moisture than required
for A. affinis, and it also has a lower soil fertility requirement than Paspalum
dilatatum, but will respond to moderate fertilizer treatment.
Ability to spread naturally
It spreads more quickly by stolons and rhizomes under favourable conditions than A.
affinis. It also spreads by seed, but does not produce such abundance of seed as A.
affinis.
Land preparation for establishment
For a pure grass stand prepare a fine, weed-free seed-bed.
Sowing methods
It can be surface sown through a drill or broadcast.
Sowing depth and cover
Sow on the surface and roll after planting.
Sowing time and rate
Sow at 6 kg/ha in early to late summer.
Number of seeds per kg.
2 970 000.
Tolerance to herbicides
It can be controlled by similar treatments to A. affinis (Tilley, 1977).
Seedling vigour
Excellent.
Response to defoliation
Carpet grass stands a good deal of defoliation and in lawns has to be mown frequently.
Grazing management
Heavy grazing to maintain the grass in a vegetative condition is essential.
Response to fire
It will survive a fire but, owing to its habitat, fires are infrequent.
Suitability for hay and silage
It rarely provides enough material for conservation, and the stems are coarse.
Value as a standover or deferred feed
Very poor once it has seeded its nutritive value is very low.
Seed harvesting methods
The seed can be easily harvested with a stripper type harvester.
Main attributes
It grows quickly and stabilizes erosive soils in the higher rainfall tropics.
Main deficiencies
Its tendency to invade better pastures, its low quality after seeding, and the
frequency of cutting needed in lawns.
Frost tolerance
Not so tolerant of frost as A. affinis.
Latitudinal limits
About 27°N and S.
Response to light
It grows well in the shade. In Malaysia the yield of carpet grass under the leguminous
rain tree Pithecolobium saman was 20 percent higher and the protein level 14 percent of
the dry matter and 11 percent under non-leguminous shade (Jagoe, 1949).
Ability to compete with weeds
It will compete with weeds under favourable conditions.
Maximum germination and quality
required for sale
60 percent (Queensland) germinable seeds, germinated at 20-35°C moistened with KNO3.
Palatability
It is fairly palatable.
Chemical analysis and digestibility
The forage quality of broad-leaf carpet grass is poor, but higher than for A. affinis.
Harrison (1942) recorded the dry-matter content of carpet grass (no stage mentioned) as 39
percent, the digestible crude protein at 1.8 percent, and the starch equivalent as 21.8
percent. Göhl (1975) has listed percent digestibility of six-week-old, 20-cm-tall growth.
Natural habitat
Subhumid and humid woodland and savannah, flourishing in moist soils.
Tolerance to flooding
It is not tolerant of swampy conditions.
Fertilizer requirements
CSIRO workers (Weier, 1976) have shown that A. compressus has an active nitrogenase
system and over a 12-week summer growing period fixed 13 kg N/ha per day. A complete
fertilizer is applied unless soil tests indicate otherwise.
Compatibility with other grasses and
legumes
It will gradually invade Cynodon dactylon in lawns and will grow in association with
white clover (Trifolium repens) and Desmodium triflorum.
Genetics and reproduction
2n=40, SO, 60 (Fedorov, 1974).
Economics
Used widely as a lawn grass in the tropics and subtropics, it invades as a low-quality
pasture grass in these areas.
Animal production
In São Paulo, Brazil, zebu steers gained an average daily liveweight of 0.175 kg over
672 days which included two dry seasons (Rocha et al., 1962). In Fiji it is considered a
useful feed, especially if sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) is growing with it (Parham,
1955).
Further reading
Barnard, 1969; Gledhill, 1965; McLennan, 1936.
Value for erosion control
Good for stabilizing slopes against erosion where conditions suit it, and also for
stabilizing banks of dams. |
