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America is home to some of the largest farms and animal production facilities in the world. All over the United States, there are different kinds of farms. The care and maintenance of these farms is crucial to the long-lasting sustainability of the country’s agricultural economy. Every farm is different and depending on the type of animals and the location, the quality of the pastures plays a large role in the health of the animals. Kikuyu grass has long been praised as a choice pasture for grazing livestock and keeping it lush and healthy is a key component of farm maintenance.

This grass seed is a robust and warm-growing perennial grass that can manage a high -degree of wear and tear. Its ability to quickly regrow itself makes it a wonderful option for pastures of grazing animals. This article will outline some of the benefits of growing Kikuyu grass as well as care and maintenance tips to ensure its longevity.

Kikuyu Grass Benefits

• Drought tolerance – For warmer climates where rainfall is sporadic, this grass will continue to grow in dry conditions. This can also reduce watering costs.
• Growth speed – This grass will grow quicker than other grasses and will heal itself. For the grazing animals, this makes for a perfect option as there will always be a bountiful supply. By covering the ground at a heightened rate, when properly fertilized, this grass can be more widely leveraged in a shorter time frame.
• Highly Nutritious – For dairy and beef animals alike, Kikuyu grass will provide essential nutrients and health benefits to cows, sheep, and goats when given at the proper stages of their development. When animals are kept on this grass, there will be increased milk yields in dairy animals as well as the weight of meat provided.

Maintenance Tips

While there are numerous benefits to growing this strong and nutritious grass, to experience the full effect of its wonder, proper care and maintenance must be taken in its growing. Like all grasses, the conditions of the ground and soil will play the largest role in its survival over an extended period. Here are some maintenance tips that will ensure your Kikuyu pastures perform properly.

• Sowing Conditions – The conditions after sowing play a large role in growing Kikuyu grass. The soil must be moist for almost a week for the seeds to properly establish themselves within the ground.
• Fertilizer – These seeds demand particular nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Keep this in mind when preparing the soil. In between cycles of grazing and mowing it is important to maintain these levels.
• Mowing – Mow these grass fields every 7-10 days in the high season and in colder months, reduce mowing to once every 3-6 weeks.
• Watering – When the grass seed has rooted itself, watering will only need to take place approximately every 10 days. You will know by its wilting.

Maintaining pastures can be made easier by contacting experts. At Stover Seed, we can answer a variety of questions and concerns about pasture care and maintenance. So make the most of your Kikuyu pastures and get growing!

Summary

Growing Kikuyu grass can be the best option when looking to make the most of your farmland. It will provide essential benefits to your pastures ensuring quality grass all year round. With its ability to grow in dry conditions, it keeps watering and maintenance costs low. The growth of Kikuyu grass takes less time than other grasses as it can spread quickly. It can heal itself after periods of stress or grazing making it perfect for an animal feeding pasture. Nutrients are abundant in Kikuyu that will benefit cows, sheep and goats increasing milk and meat yields. This is a grass that can be best leveraged by ensuring the proper conditions after seeding and fertilizing regularly with nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. By watering and mowing approximately every 7-10 days, this grass will stay healthy and strong for years to come.