Indication
Medium-sized Panicum. It is recommended for soils of medium fertility, for breeding, rearing, and fattening cattle, and for milk production. It can be used for horses, however, accompanied by mineral supplementation and proper pasture management.
Megathyrsus maximus cv. Massai
Panicum maximum cv. Massai
Medium to high fertility
Direct grazing or haymaking
15,6 t/ha/year of dry matter (DM)
8.5 to 12.5%
Perennial
Origin
This cultivar was commercially released by Embrapa in 2001, cited as a spontaneous hybrid between Panicum maximum x Panicum infestum. It was collected in Tanzania, Africa, in 1969.
Agronomic Characteristics
Massai grass is an early grass, flowering and producing seeds several times a year. Its flowering is intense, rapid, and clustered. It has been evaluated several times for resistance to the Notozulia entreriana spittlebug, showing resistance with low adult and nymph population levels. Source: Embrapa CNPGC / Technical Communication COT No. 69 (November 2001).
Use and Management
Massai is a medium-sized Panicum grass. It has lower fertility requirements compared to other cultivars in the family and can be established in soils of medium fertility. It is recommended for breeding, rearing, and fattening cattle in intensive and rotational grazing systems. It can also be used for horses; however, adequate mineral supplementation for the species and pasture management are essential. When poorly managed and with an excess of stems, it can hinder food digestion, leading to colic symptoms and even death.
Morphological Characteristics
It is a plant that forms tussocks with an average height of 60 cm, with brittle leaves, without waxiness, and an average width of 9 mm. The blades have a medium density of short, hard hairs. The stems are green. The inflorescences still have short primary branches and no secondary branching. The spikelets are hairy, evenly distributed, with half of the outer surface purplish. The verticil is hairy. Information: Embrapa CNPGC / Technical Communication COT No. 69 (Nov 2001).
