Panicum maximum

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropical to tropical zones, where it is found at elevations up to 2,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 19 - 30°c, but can tolerate 6 - 35°c^[2]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -2°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c^[2]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 650 - 4,300mm^[2]. Prefers a lightly shaded position, but succeeds in full sun and quite deep shade^[2]. It grows especially well in shaded, damp areas under trees and shrubs^[3]. Grows best in a fertile, humus-rich loam, but tolerates most soil types and also low fertility^[2]. Prefers a well-drained soil, but tolerant of seasonal inundation^[2]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 3.5 - 8.4^[2]. The plant is a very effective coloniser in ungrazed areas, particularly where some form of soil disturbance has occurred^[4]. It is well adapted to sloping, cleared land in rain forest areas. It can be an aggressive invader of annual and perennial crops in Brazil^[2]. The plant may become a persistent weed, especially in cultivated areas such as sugarcane fields. It should be controlled in the seedling stage, as it is very difficult to remove later when the grass has reached maturity^[3]. Yields of dry matter may be 6 - 60 tonnes per hectare^[2]. Although plants seed readily, heads ripen very unevenly and shatter readily. Hence seed must be hand-collected. Viability of the fresh seed is comparatively low - it is increased by storing the seeds dry for 6 - 18 months^{[1, 4]}. Seed viability under natural conditions is short-lived. The plants should be allowed to reseed themselves at periodic intervals to insure stand maintenance^[1].