Whittet Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum)
Whittet Kikuyu is a deep rooted, self-repairing
perennial grass.
Whittet Kikuyu is very popular in coastal areas of the south-west Western Australia for Horse, sheep and cattle pastures. Palatability is high when the sward is
kept grazed short and has significant legume content, older growth is not readily eaten.
Whittet Kikuyu forms a dense pasture and spreads by stolons. The stolons will creep above and below the soil surface. Kikuyu is generally later spring, summer and early autumn active while the weather is warm, Kikuyu will provide very little winter growth. Kikuyu is very suitable drought tolerant warm season grass.
Whittet Kikuyu key attributes:
• High quality forage when managed correctly
• A taller variety of kikuyu
• Vigourous grower, producing quick cover
• Broader leaves, thicker stems and larger internodes on the stolons
• Persists better under lower fertility than other kikuyu
varieties
The best time to sow Whittet Kikuyu is when the soil temperature is above 20°c and there is a high probability of several days of good soil moisture.
Newly sown Whittet Kikuyu should not be grazed until the runners are about 20 – 25cm long and have taken significant roots. It’s important to make sure
when grazing begins on recently sown seed the runners are not being pulled out of the soil.
• High quality forage when managed correctly
• A taller variety of kikuyu
• Vigourous grower, producing quick cover
• Broader leaves, thicker stems and larger internodes on the stolons
• Persists better under lower fertility than other kikuyu
varieties
The best time to sow Whittet Kikuyu is when the soil temperature is above 20°c and there is a high probability of several days of good soil moisture.
Newly sown Whittet Kikuyu should not be grazed until the runners are about 20 – 25cm long and have taken significant roots. It’s important to make sure
when grazing begins on recently sown seed the runners are not being pulled out of the soil.
Recommended Rainfall Rate: +700mm
Recommended Sow Rate: 2-3 kgs/ha.