How to Restore a Bahia Grass Field
Bahia grass is a good source of protein and roughage for horses and cattle. Consequently, ranchers from the southern United States to Argentina cultivate fields or pastures of bahia grass for their livestock. In addition to its nutritional component, this is a hardy variety of grass that thrives in hot, humid environments and it is easy to cultivate, which makes it relatively simple to restore a field of bahia grass. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Bahia grass seed
- Seed drill or broadcast spreader
- Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers
Instructions
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Using a seed drill or a broadcast spreader, sow bahia grass seed over the field at a rate of 10 to 25 lbs. per acre. The seeds will germinate within 30 days. Typically, bahia grass is sown in early spring, but you can plant the seeds any time of the year as long as there is no danger of frost, which will prevent the seeds from germinating.
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Fertilize your bahia grass pasture twice a year. At the time you plant bahia grass seeds, apply 30 lbs. of nitrogen, 15 lbs. of phosphorus and 30 lbs. of potassium per acre. Six months later, repeat this application, using the same ratio of fertilizer per acre. You may want to send a soil sample to a local agricultural college for analysis to determine if your field also requires lime, sulfur or other nutrients.
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Do not bother watering your field. Bahia grass is drought resistant; during a severe dry spell, bahia grass will become dormant, then revive after the drought ends.
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Tips & Warnings
Wait until the bahia grass seedlings are well-established and have a strong root system before releasing livestock into the field to graze.
Argentine bahia grass is the one variety that is not drought resistant. If dry spells are common in your part of the world, it would be best to plant the seeds of Pensacola or Tifton bahia grass.
