BARENBRUG SPLENDA SETARIA SEED COATED TROPICAL (25) PER KG 20104043

Splenda was bred by the CSIRO, Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures in Queensland, Australia.

The variety arises from controlled pollination between the botanical varieties of Splendida and Sericea grown for several generations to  stabilise the species.

Splenda combines the high vegetative yield of Splendida, which was sterile seed, with seed production and fertility approaching that of cv. Kazungula.

Splenda is a robust perennial leafy forage grass with broad leaves to approximately 14mm wide and flowering at about 2 metres.

Its stems are thicker and broader than Kazungula, has more nodes and leaves per stem and flowers later in the season.

The young growth of Splenda is leafy and tillers are broad and strongly flattened, the leaf sheaths often overlapping in a fan shape and mostly reddened towards the base.

Splenda is adapted to the relatively high rainfall tropics and subtropics of 800mm or more with a maximum dry period not greater than 12 weeks.

Suited to most soil  types and is very tolerant of waterlogging.

Splenda combines with most of the taller growing legumes of the tropics.

Frost tolerance is similar to Kazungula as light frosts kill the leaves.

Splenda can be used for permanent pasture, hay, silage, cut and carry, soil conservation & hedgerow.

Features:

Flattened and often reddish-coloured leaf bases
Remains persistent once established
Very palatable to livestock . (May be heavily grazed without risk of plant death).
Combines well with legumes
Hardy, high yielding and later maturing variety
Suited to sub tropical regions
Relatively frost tolerant and withstands water logging

Suggested sowing rates:

Recommended planting rates for Splenda are:

Marginal dryland:
2 - 6kg per hectare

Good dryland:
8 - 12kg per hectare

Irrigated:
12 - 15kg per hectare

It can be sown successfully from spring to early autumn.
As a general rule, it is best to choose a suitable sowing time for any associated legume.
Can be planted in wider rows, allowed to grow tall, and rolled flat to facilitate nodal rooting and sward formation.