CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME COMMON GRASSES
Elephant grass: This is a tall grass which grows in clumps by tillering abundantly. It is propagated by stem cuttings. It produces very high yields of cut forage and is also suited for grazing.
Pangola grass: A medium height grass (30-45 cm) which spreads by surface runners producing a dense mat of vegetation. It is propagated by stem cuttings and grows on a variety of soils in the Caribbean, particularly in the wetter regions. Pangola grass can be cut for use as fodder or it can be grazed.
Para grass: This is a medium height grass that grows in a dense mat. Propagation is by stem cuttings. It is well suited to poorly drained soils. It does best as cut forage but is generally grazed.
Antelope grass: This grass grows taller than para grass and has a very robust stem. It is a very prolific grass and responds well under wet conditions.
Tanner grass: This grass has a relatively short and slender stem. It can be propagated by stem cuttings and it spreads quickly.
PASTURE LEGUMES Legumes are now widely cultivated as pure stands or mixed with pasture grasses where they help to improve soil fertility by the action of Nitrogen fixing bacteria. The most common legumes grown in pastures in the Caribbean is the Kudzu. Kudzu however, is not palatable and so it grows with grass in pastures for grazing. Other legumes in pastures are phasey bean, desmodium, glycine, stylosanthes, river tamarind and some species of pigeon peas.
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