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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: A vigorous-growing, long-lived perennial
bunchgrass introduced from South Africa. Mature plants are typically
1 1/2 to 3 feet tall, growing from dense many-stemmed
and many-leaved crowns.
Occurrence Boer lovegrass occurs primarily on depleted desert grassland
ranges where it has been artificially seeded. It is not well adapted
to alkaline soils, seeming to thrive best on essentially neutral sites
where annual precipitation is 13 inches or more. Winter killing limits
the use of this grass to areas where winter temperatures normally do
not drop to zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Forage Value Boer lovegrass rates fairly high both in palatability
and volume production. It produces abundantly both in the spring, when
there is usually a deficiency of other green forage, and in the summer.
Even when an abundance of other forage is available, however, cattle
make good use of Boer lovegrass. It is also grazed readily in the fall
after native grasses have cured. Boer lovegrass, like most non-native grasses seeded on
depleted ranges, can be grazed to best advantage when planted as extensive
stands that provide the bulk of the feed in a pasture. Otherwise, it
tends to be grazed out as a result of heavy spring use. The ability
of this grass to produce green herbage in the spring makes it particularly
well suited to use in areas that tend to be deficient in green spring
forage. Because of its heavy summer production and high palatability,
on the other hand, it is valuable for summer and fall grazing. Like
most grasses, it should be moderately grazed in pastures that are stocked
every year. Consistent heavy use will result in deterioration of the
stand and in a reduced forage production.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona