Cynodon spp
Shariff.R.M
Scientific name
- Cynodon aethiopicus
- Cynodon nlemfuensis
- Canodon plectostachyus
general similarity in appearance
between the above mentined , thus
considerable cofusion in the
taxonomic affiliation of many
specimens
„ Synonyms:
- Cynodon parodii
- Cynodon dactylon var. samentosus
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Family:Poaceae ( Gramineae
Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Tribe: Cynodonteae
Common names: the most well
known are:
- Ethiopian dog´s tooth grass
- Stargrass ( Englisch)
- nakuro ( kenya)
- African bermuda grass
(Englisch)
- Hawaiiano ( Spanisch- Costa
Rica)
native to:
Mostly from tropical
east africa, although
extending in Angola
„ Naturalised
throughout tropics
and subtropics, in
disturbed areas of
grass land, cattle
paddocks and road
sides
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Morphological discription:
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A largely robust, sometimes fine, woody
stoloniferous clums to 100cm tall ( var.
Robustus) 3mm near the base
Flat leaf blades, green to purblish-red, 330 cm long, 2-7 mm wide
Deep rooted group of perennials.
Inflourescence a digitate or sub digitate
panicle , comprising 20-30 spike-like
recemes 3-11 cm long, in 1-7 whorls
Spiklets green, red or purple, 2-3 mm long
beginning of growing season
late in season
Adaptation
¾ Sun/shade full sun only , little shade
tolerance
¾ Soil: will tolerate a wide range of soils ,
pH 5.5-7, does not tolerate salt
¾ Moisture: excellent drought tolerance,
grows best in moist soils, 600-3000mm
rainfall
¾ Fertility medium to high
¾ Temperature and altitude: occurs from
about 15 N – 15 S, >2,300 m asl, annual
temperature range 20-27 C
Uses and applications:
„ can be grazed or harvested for Hay or
silage for Cut and Carry
„ Useful live mulch and ground cover for
weed control and soil conservation
Management:
„ Due to minimal seed set, they are
mostly propagated vegetatively using
stolons (runners) at a rate of 1 ton/h,
should be free of Cynodon dactylon
„ A solid stand can be achieved in 3
monthes, new sprigs are drought
succeptible should be mosit kept
Fertiliser:
„ Initial application of 40 Kg/h NPK
each is needed for good
establishment, followed by 35-50
Kg/h N after 30 days
„ DM yields can be improved by adding
10 kg/h monthly at least
„ Cut and Carry: 50-100 Kg N/h
should be applied after each cut (4-6
weeks)
„ stuble Height: 15-25 cm maintained,
allowing the sward to get 30-70 cm
Compatibility (with other Spp):
„ Very vigorous grasses that, unmanaged can
overgrow associated legumes, However can be
mixed by (Arachis pentoi, Desmodium
uncinatum), (Trifolium repens)
„ To certain extent, can be shaded out by taller
grasses and trees
Pests and diseases:
„ Rust caused by Puccinia graminis,
Helminthosporium leaf-spot
„ Leaf blight disease (Rhizoctonia solani)
„ Spiklet diseases caused by Fusarium
Nematodes include the stubby root
(Thrichodorus),spiral (Helicotylenchus
„ Build up of nematodes under star grass can
lead to severe consequences in nematodesusciptible vegetable and ornamental crops.
Nutritive value:
„ The same as the most star grass when
harvested after 4-6 weeks
„ Under good management CP% 11-16%
„ The more the rest period reduced the more
enhanced the value
„ P level in the dried matter of 0.1-0.4%, and
calcium 0.2-0.5%
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Strenghs
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Rapid establishiment
from vegetative cuttung
Persistent when properly
managed.
Drought tolerant
Some Spp are doing well
in cool season with
adequate moisture and
fertility
Palatable and high
quality forage when
harvested regularly
Limitations:
„ No seed available
„ Low productivity
during dry period.
„ Top growth killed by
frost.
„ Requires higher
fertility than any other
grass Spp, as Digitaria
eriantha
„ Forage quality drops
rapidly after 5 weeks
of regrowth and
following heavy frost
„ Acceptability to cattle
declines rapidly with
time
„ Produce high HCN
Conclusion:
„ high levels of HCN has been
reported bcausse of the mistaken
identification of the Spp in question
„ such varieties are much adopted by
Cut and carry for market oriented
system, rather than hoshold level,
due to the many previously
mentioned limitations
References
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A.H. Bruneau, C.H. Peacock, R.J. Cooper, E.J. Erickson., CYNO
SPP. MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE UPPER TRANSITION
ZONE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, ISHS Acta
Horticulture 661,international conference on turf grass
management and science for sports field.
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Tropical forages
http://www.tropicalforages.info/key/Forages/Media/Html/
don_spp.htm
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