Premium
Centipedegrass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.): Growth behavior and multipurpose usages
Author(s) -
Islam M. Anowarul,
Hirata Masahiko
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
grassland science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.388
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1744-697X
pISSN - 1744-6961
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-697x.2005.00014.x
Subject(s) - habit , stolon , agroforestry , grazing , amenity , wildlife , grassland , geography , environmental science , agronomy , ecology , biology , business , finance , psychotherapist , psychology
For sustainable and profitable agricultural production and conservation of environment, wildlife and amenity resources, it is important to use appropriate plant species in respective grassland systems. In recent years in Japan, there has been increased interest in using centipedegrass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.) as a low‐input plant for soil conservation and gazing purposes. The history of cultivation and use of centipedegrass in Japan is not long and thus, detailed information on growth habit, establishment, management and utilization of this grass is lacking. In the present paper, the distribution and occurrence of centipedegrass are traced and the growth habit and importance are discussed. Since its introduction into the USA from China in 1916, it is increasingly being used as a popular turfgrass. This grass forms a relatively short and highly dense sward with rapidly spreading leafy stolons, which is advantageous in terms of soil conservation, particularly in high rainfall and sloped areas. This grass can also be used for grazing due to high leafiness and high palatability by animals. Therefore, there may be real potential in utilizing centipedegrass for multipurpose usages and the usefulness of this grass needs reevaluation.