Brachiaria distachya (L.) Stapf
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Brachiaria distachya (L.) Stapf
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Gramineae Synonyms
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Author: L.’t Mannetje |
Common names Green summer grass (En). Origin and geographic distribution B. distachya originates and occurs in the Indian subcontinent, throughout South-East Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. It has also been recorded in West Africa (Togo). Creeping annual; stems up to 50 cm tall, ascending from a prostrate base, rooting at the nodes. Leaf broadly linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2-8 cm x 3-7 mm; sheath keeled, up to 3 cm long, hairy at the margin when young. Inflorescence consisting of 2-3 racemes on an axis 0.5-2 cm long; racemes 1-3 cm long with spikelets attached singly on either side of the median ridge of the rachis; spikelets narrowly elliptic, 2.5-3 mm long, glabrous, acute; lower glume one third to one half as long as the spikelet, clasping; upper glume separated from the lower by a short internode; upper lemma rugulose. Caryopsis flattened ovoid, 1.6 mm long, light yellow (Manidool 1992). Use B. distachya is used primarily as forage. In coastal sand dunes it acts as a soil-binder. It can be used as a trap crop to diversify sorghum ecosystems, which may result in reduced shoot fly (Atherigona soccata) densities (Nwilene et al. 1998) Properties Results from Thailand have shown that 8-week-old growth of B. distachya had 65% digestible DM and low N concentrations of 1.5% at 4 weeks and 0.9% at 12 weeks (Holm 1971) Ecology B. distachya is adapted to humid tropical lowlands. It can grow under light shady conditions such as occur in old coconut plantations or orchards. It is often found in small patches along forest edges and waste places where it is freely grazed by village cattle. It does not tolerate waterlogging (Manidool 1992). Soil requirements B. distachya is well adapted to sandy loam soils. Propagation and planting B. distachya is vegetatively propagated through division of root stocks. Growth and development B. distachya commences flowering early in the growing season and then flowers continuously throughout the year, but little seed is set. Diseases and pests B. distachya supports complete development of the rice and maize insect pest Cicadulina bipunctata (Catindig et al. 1996). Performance B. distachya is an interesting natural forage grass in South-East Asia, deserving more attention because of its high palatability and its tolerance of light shade and poor soils. Yields of 3 t/ha of DM without fertilizer and 9 t/ha with mixed fertilizer have been obtained in southern Thailand (Kotepat and Sookasem 1989). When fertilized with 240 kg N + 100 kg P2O5 + 100 kg K2O/ha, cut at 6-week intervals and irrigated in the dry season B. distachya, yielded 16.6 t DM/ha year in the Chiang Mai region of Thailand (Holm 1972). It is very palatable and light grazing is recommended, because it is sensitive to grazing (Shanmughavel 1995). Links
Links for the genus Catindig J.L.A. et al.(1996); Holm, J. (1971); Holm, J. (1972); Kotepat W. and Sookasem P. (1989); Nwilene F.E. et al. (1998); Manidool C. (1992); Shanmughavel P. (1995) |