Seed production
 Seed can be harvested by hand with sickles 
and threshed with sticks. It is important to 
keep the seeding pasture clean of weeds 
because Rhodes grass seed is more difficult 
to clean than most other tropical grasses. 
Rhodes grass often produces two crops of 
seed per year. Rhodes grass seed matures 
23?25 days after flowering. Yields up to 350 
kg seed per hectare can be harvested. Seed 
can remain viable in storage for up to 4 
years.
 Feeding
 Grazing is the most common method of 
feeding Rhodes grass. Avoid overgrazing?
 because its palatability is extremely high, 
livestock tend to overgraze pasture. Some 
farmers use the grass for cut-and-carry. It also 
makes good hay.
 This guide was compiled by Dr Ben Lukuyu. 
For further information on this and other 
topics relating to livestock feeds and feeding, 
please contact:
 Ben Lukuyu
 The East Africa Dairy Development Project
 P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
 Tel: +254-20-422-3000 
or +254-20-422-3412 (direct)
 Fax: +254-20-422-3001
 E-mail: b.lukuyu@cgiar.org
 Josephine Kirui
 The East Africa Dairy Development Project
 P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
 Tel: +254-20-722-4000 
or +254-20-722-4133 (direct)
 Fax: +254-20-722-4001
 E-mail: j.kirui@cgiar.org
 This information is meant as a guide and 
must be adapted to suit local conditions.
 EADD leaflet no. 1
 Boma 
varie
 ty Rhodes gras
 s
 RHODES GRASS
About Rhodes grass
 Rhodes grass is a vigorous, perennial grass, 
originating in South Africa, with a strong root 
system that gives it good drought tolerance. It 
spreads quickly, forming good ground cover, 
and grows to 1.5 m.
 It grows under a wide range of conditions. It 
is useful in the cut-and-carry system and for 
open grazing and is popular for hay making. 
Common varieties are Giant, Boma (in photo), 
Mbarara and Masaba Rhodes.
 Advantages
 ?	 does well in low rainfall areas (<900 mm) 
and is drought tolerant
 ?	 withstands heavy grazing
 ?	 is very palatable
 ?	 is good for hay making
 Disadvantages
 ?	can be hard to establish because seed 
germination is poor
 ?	can be overgrazed because of its high 
palatability
 Cultivation
 Climate 
Grows at altitudes from 600 m to 2000 m. It 
does well in areas receiving more than 250 
mm rainfall annually and also persists well 
under drought conditions.
 Soil
 Grows in a wide range of soil conditions but 
performs best in loamy, fertile soils. It does not 
do well in alkaline or very acid soils.
 Preparation
 It is best grown as a pure stand.
 Plough and repeat at least once to make a 
fine seedbed. Plough again when the weeds 
have emerged to reduce competition during 
establishment. Sow immediately after this 
ploughing.
 Planting
 Rhodes grass is usually established from seed 
but root splits can also be used. The best time 
to sow where there are two rainy seasons is 
during the short rains. Where there is one rainy 
season, plant from early to mid rains.
 Sow when the soil is loose (dry). Make furrows 
25 cm apart, using a peg to measure. Drill the 
seeds in the furrows, at a seed rate of 12 kg per 
hectare (2.5 acres). That means 1.2 kg will sow 
0.1 ha or 1/4 acre. Cover the seeds lightly, for 
example by placing light tree branches over 
the furrows.
 Fertilizer
 For high productivity, apply nitrogen fertilizer, 
preferably during heavy rains, at the rate of 
100 kg per hectare.
 Weeding
 Make sure the plot is weed free when it is first 
sown. Remove weeds between the rows using 
a hand hoe.
 Pests
 No diseases of importance but common pests 
such as armyworm may attack the pastures.
 Harvesting
 Start harvesting or grazing soon after grass 
flowers. If cutting, cut close to the ground to 
stimulate spreading. Leave to grow again until 
next flowering.
 When well managed, Rhodes grass can yield 
an average of 8 tonnes dry matter per hectare 
per year.
 Advantage