Buffel Grass ( USA, Gayndah, Biloela, Nunbank)

Buffel is the most widely planted sub-tropical grass in central and northern Australia. It is a hardy, palatable, very productive grass that responds quickly to moisture and fertility. It is suited to fertile loam soil types such as Brigalow and Gidgee country.

USA buffel

Is a shorter variety with fine stems, dense foliage with earlier purple flowering, suited to lighter textured, well drained soils.

Gayndah buffel

Is a finer, medium height buffel that establishes readily, and is adapted to a wider range of soil types in central and western Qld. It has better stock acceptance and is more densely tillered, but is less vigorous than Biloela.

Biloela buffel

Is a taller more robust buffel with a deep root system, greater drought tolerance with more vigorous underground rhizomes. It establishes readily in heavy soil types and is preferred for heavy-suckering country for its ability to produce a hotter fire.

Rhodes Grass (Callide, Katambora, Finecut)

Callide rhodes grass is grown extensively in the coastal regions of northern N.S.W. and Queensland. It grows in a wide range of soil types and is highly suited to companion legumes such as stylos, siratro and glycine. Its late flowering and good palatability make it ideal for quality grazing and/or hay making. Self anchoring runners (stolons) ensure good establishment however it may not persist in very low fertility soils. Katambora rhodes grass displays greater drought tolerance and the ability to grow well on lower fertility soils such as speargrass country. It has a higher degree of stolons (runners) and withstands periodic waterlogging, making it a useful variety in heavy melonhole country where it competes aggressively with weeds. (e.g. Parthenium in central Queensland).

UROCHLOA (Sabi grass)

A very hardy and useful perennial tropical grass able to persist and spread in the dry tropics. Its earliness to flower and hay off can restrict its productive potential. Urochloa responds quickly to rainfall and grows over a range of soil types, combining well with Stylo's.

INDIAN BLUE GRASS

Another hardy perennial tropical grass that has readily established over large areas of the dry tropics. It has a developed root system suited to a range of soil types from sands to open Downs clays. Its productive potential is not great, however its drought tolerance, durability and soil conservation properties make it a valuable pasture in drought years.

PANIC GRASS (Bambatsi, Green, Gatton)

Bambatsi panic is a palatable and very drought tolerant grass with a deep fibrous root system. It does best on heavy black clays where it will tolerate periodic flooding. It can remain green and productive through winter with adequate rainfall. Green panic is better suited to sub-tropical areas with fertile, well drained soils. It also has good shade tolerance. Gatton panic is similar to green panic but has broader longer leaves and better palatability.

SETARIA GRASS (Splenda, Kazungula, Narok, Solander)

Whilst varietal differences exist, setaria grass is adapted to varying soil types of the tropical coast where rainfall exceeds 800mm. Setaria is relatively frost tolerant and withstands some waterlogging. It is a good companion grass with legumes such as pinto, siratro and glycine. Splenda setaria is bred by CSIRO for higher yield, forage quality, and later maturity. It is suited to longer growing season regions with good fertility. Splenda produces fine, leafy tillers with better palatability and feed value.

PREMIER DIGITARIA

A perennial tufted grass suited to free draining infertile soils similar to traplock areas in Southern Queensland. Although slow to establish, it is very persistent, cold tolerant and able to survive in lower rainfall climates.

CONSOL LOVEGRASS

Persistent tussock forming grass suited to light, acidic sandy soils where rainfall exceeds 350mm annual rainfall. Suited to soils where acidity limits the growth of Buffell and Rhodes grass. Although low in palatability, Consol is acceptable to most livestock.

BAHIA GRASS ( Pensacola, Competidor and Argentine)

Deep rooted perennial grass that spreads by short thick rhizomes. Suited to a wide range of soils and tolerate low fertility and sandy conditions. Pensacola has poor acceptance by stock and does'nt combine well in a sward with legumes. Competidor and Argentine have broader leaves, a more prostrate growth habit, and better palatability than Pensacola.

PURPLE PIDGEON GRASS

Purple pidgeon grass is a tufted summer perennial grass that will grow on a range of soil types including heavy clays. It is suited to higher rainfall areas of central and southern Qld and north west N.S.W. Purple pidgeon grass combines well with medics and lucerne and is tolerant of temporary waterlogging.

CREEPING BLUE GRASS (Bissett, Hatch)

Creeping bluegrass has good drought and close grazing tolerance. It produces creeping stolons (runners) and is suited to low fertility soils having the ability to invade speargrass stands. The new cultivar Bissett is finer stemmed, more stoloniferous and is later maturing, as well as making better hay than Hatch.

JARRA GRASS

Jarra grass is a seed producing Pangola-type grass best suited for the fertile, wet tropics. It has the ability to grow proliferously under ideal seasonal growing conditions.

SIGNAL GRASS (Brachi)

Signal grass is a coarse stoloniferous grass that forms a dense ground cover under fertile conditions. It is suited to the humid tropical regions with rainfall above 1200mm. Signal grass can be combined with aggressive tropical legumes such as stylos, glycine, and siratro.

HUMIDICOLA (Tully grass)

Humidicola is a highly stoloniferous perennial grass with the ability to withstand prolonged waterlogging. It will establish in low fertility soils and responds well to fertiliser and withstands heavy grazing.

GUINEA GRASS (Hamil grass)

Guinea (Hamil) grass is suited to warm, frost-free regions. It has a deep fibrous root system to survive drought but prefers well drained fertile soils and high rainfall.