PASPALUM DILATATUM

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1641, 14 May 1925, Page 7

PASPALUM DILATATUM

A correspondent has asked for information regarding Paspalum dilatatum or Golden Crown grass as a milk producing fodder plant. This plant was introduced into Australia by the late Baron von Mueller many years ago and quickly attained popularity there as an excellent fodder, being perfectly hardy, keeping green during the summer months and possessing good drought-resisting properties. (All of tlrese qualities have been well sustained, but the experience of dairy farmers in various parts of the Commonwealth has led to many varied expressions of opinion. This grass has been largely grown in Victoria, but more extensively in New South Wales and Queensland. The Farmers' Handbook, second edition, issued by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, states:— "Wjithin the past 20 years sleepy villages on the north coast of that State have been transformed into busy centres of thriving dairy districts, the land has improved tenfold in value, and the. discovery of Paspalum has proved a veritable gold mine." Some of the objectionable features of this grass have been discovered recently, and it is not so popular in 'certain districts. When it becomes thoroughly established upon moist ground, especially in warm districts where climatic conditions are most favourable, it is very difficult to eradicate. This has proved a serious objection where it is desired to cultivate the land for other purposes, while it has also encroached upon other areas to a degree which has caused it to become a serious, menacing weed. Another undesirable feature found in this grass is its tendency to produce bunchy, tussocky growth, and coarse stems which are refused by cattle if other fodder be available} It tends to produce a dense mat of roots, and ultimately the grass becomes reduced in vigour and dies out*. Best results are obtained by keeping the pastures closely grazed once the grass has become established. This prevents the formation of tussocks and the young shoots, which are succulent and very nutritious, are relished by stock and are excellent for milk production. It is not intended to convey the impression that the grass is unsuitable as' a fodder, but soil and climatic conditions should be carefully considered before deciding to sow it. It is in moist, warm districts where its unfavourable tendencies are most in evidence, and there are plenty of fodder plants, which are well adapted for such conditions. It will prove 'profitable under a moderate rainfall and in poorer soils where it is not likely to become rank and difficult to deal with. It may also be profitably introduced to swampy, but not inundated land, where it quickly forms a thick mat and gives •excellent grazing throughout the summer on land which would otherwise be of little value. The plant is deep rooting and consequently there are possibilities of establishing it upon sandy ridges where moisture is retained a foot or more below the surface. In such position it would also prove valuable for preventing drifting. It is essentially a grass for warm localities, therefore it would not be advisable to sow it extensively in the cooler districts of the South Island, as the season of growth would be too short. Seeding can be carried out in the autumn or spring, the latter being preferable in cool districts, the late autumn in the northern districts. When the .plants are eight to ten inches high they may be grazed down to suppress weeds and promote stooling, but it should not be eaten right down until the plants are well established, when stocking should be sufficiently heavy to keep down rank growth. After several years a top dressing with superphosphate may be necessary, and complete renewal may be advisable after the ground has become completely matted over with roots. Paspalum is often sown in mixtures with ryegrass, cocksfoot, and clovers. In this case about 21b. to the acre is sufficient in the mixture, but when sown alone 101 b. to the acre would provide a good seeding.