Monthly Archives: February 2019

Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana)
Rhodes grass is a tufted perennial, usually stoloniferous (varies with genotype), with foliage from 0.5-1.2 m, and fertile tillers from 0.9-2 m tall. It is native to Kenya and many other sub-Saharan Africa countries. Found in open woodland and grassland, riverine and lake margins, and seasonally waterlogged plains, on a wide range of soils. It is excellent for making hay, but can also be grazed in the field. It can grow to 1.5 m high in under good conditions. Rhodes grass is can grow under wide range of rainfall (650 -1200 mm) and can persist under drought.
Uses:
Rhodes grass is less suitable for the cut-and-carry system. It makes good hay if cut at or just before very early flowering. Generally not suitable for silage. Provides fair stand over roughage when mature, due to its greater cold resistance and lower loss of dry leaves. Develops good ground cover and effectively controls erosion once established (needs regular defoliation to maintain cover. Stands develop quickly and can be grazed 4-6 months after planting, although highest production is reached in the second year. Since feeding value declines rapidly with onset of flowering, it is important to maintain the stand in a leafy condition by fairly regular defoliation.
Establishment:
Rhodes grass establishes well from seed sown at a rate of about 10 kg per hectare. It also establishes well from root splits. It rapidly gives good ground cover under good conditions. Can be propagated vegetatively or from seed. A more rapid cover can generally be obtained by planting from seed, usually at sowing rates of 0.5-1 kg/ha. Seed matures 23-25 days after flowering. Mechanically harvested seed can contain a fair proportion of straw. Hand picking is satisfactory for small areas, and this seed needs minimal cleaning. Seed is locally available (Kenya Seed Company stockists, KALRO, ADC farms).
Yield and nutritive value:
DM yields generally range from about (2- ) 10-25 t/ha, depending on variety, soil fertility, environmental conditions, and cutting frequency. Yields in the second year may be double those of the establishment year, but this also depends on management and environmental conditions. While yields of 35-60 t/ha DM are reported, these are not the norm. Although Chloris gayana can survive on infertile soil, it is very unproductive, and may eventually die out, particularly if grazed regularly. Young growth is very palatable, but after the plants have seeded they are less attractive.
Animal production:
Can carry about 1-4 beasts/ha depending on pasture productivity. Annual liveweight gains of up to 160 kg/head and 850 kg/ha are achievable. Production declines without a vigorous legume or the use of fertiliser nitrogen.
Strengths:
Widely adapted.
Easily established.
Early nutritive value.
High salt tolerance
Tolerant of heavy grazing.
Few pests or diseases of economic importance.
Some varieties can suppress nematodes (e.g. cv. Katambora).
Good seed production.
Limitations:
Short season of nutritive peak in many cultivars.
Fluffy seed difficult to sow.
Not adapted to acid, infertile soils.
Plants require high fertility to persist.
Low shade tolerance

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1 week ago Dennis Weche

January 17, 2019)
Kakamega Women Rep Hon. Elsie Muhanda has today paid a courtesy call to Kenya Seeds Co. Headquarters in Kitale.
While meeting top Company’s Managers, the County Women leader discussed possibilities of entering into a deal with the Seed Company that will see 3,000 vulnerable farmers drawn from the 60 wards of Kakamega County benefit from free maize seedlings, tree seedlings, and indigenous vegetables and engage the company in offering agricultural knowledge to farmers. 50 vulnerable families from each ward will benefit from this project.

The majority of farmers within Kakamega County work without basic agricultural inputs or updated technology and lack adequate financial or extension services. This is due to persisting poverty among the residents of the county. This has posed critical challenges to food security among families that can’t afford modern farming methods. Kenya Seed Company on behalf of Kakamega County Women Representative Hon. Muhanda will help in implementing activities that are focused on increasing agricultural productivity andincomes for smallholder farmers; building more resilient communities. Kenya Seed Company will also help in monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) to these farmers, in the long run, a project Hon. Muhanda intends to run for a couple of years.

Her visit at the Seed Company is in line with President Kenyatta’s Big 4 Agendas with agriculture being at the top of the economy’s helm.

I know this grass!! I didn’t know that’s what its called! I bought some seeds from Kenya seed. Years ago. I never bought again, the grass just kept growing. Even after harvesting. Thanks chief. Now I know what to ask for. I agree. Its a very nice grass. The storage bit would be interesting to learn. Thanks for this info. We learn something new every day, but this one is a keeper

The new Maize variety by Kenya Seed may be the perfect replacement for H614….So far, happy with the progress.

I bought Sugar Baby watermelon seeds in November last year from Kenya Seeds as the organisation sells certified seeds cheaper than most retailers,” I expects to harvest 5,000 to 8,000 watermelons early next month.

Noah Chemir started by growing Boma Rhodes grass for hay at his vast family land. “I started with 20 acres, this year we are expanding to 700 acres,” he says. He invested Sh800,000, from his savings and charcoal sale. “I harvested around 10,000 bales and sold at Sh150 each,” he says.
He made Sh1.5 million. Buoyed by the profit, he planted 70 acres in 2011, but poor grass seed quality cost him Sh500, 000. He vowed to always get quality seeds and advises farmers to do the same