BARENBRUG DIGITARIA PREMIER AGRICOTE PER KG 20109103
This species originates from Africa and was introduced into Australia from South Africa and re-selected for release as Premier.
This species is related to Pangola grass Digitaria decumbens – a non-seeding type.
Used in long-term, permanent pasture for grazing & hay, Premier Digitaria is a robust, tufted sub tropical perennial pasture grass growing erect to 150cm or more.
Premier is particularly well adapted to inland environments with lower rainfall and severe Winter frosts.
Although the leaves are damaged by frost, it will continue to produce new green leaf in the Winter providing adequate soil moisture is available.
Persistence is a strong feature as it will grow well on a wide range of soils of varying fertility from sandy loams and podzols to cracking clays.
Premier has a fair leaf and stem ratio of acceptable quality with good drought, fire, frost and insect resistance.
Key features:
Highly productive, robust tufted perennial that is palatable and persistent
Drought, fire and cold tolerant
Tolerates short-duration heavy grazing by cattle and sheep
Contains low levels of soluble oxalate
Establishment:
Requires a fine, firm, clean seedbed for establishment, to avoid competition in the early stages. Seed is slightly hairy and may not flow readily through some planting equipment, so the use of AgriCOTE Enhanced seed is recommended.
Agronomy and management:
All genotypes of digit grass are tolerant of heavy grazing. Regular grazing is necessary to maintain quality and to minimise disease incidence with best results if the grass is maintained between 10–15 and 30–40 cm, although this may not be feasible under sheep grazing.
Ideally, it should be grazed every 2–3 weeks.
Performance:
DM yields vary with fertility, genotype, and environmental and management conditions, but normally range from about 10–20 t/ha.
Animal production an excellent species for beef and milk production.
N fertilized pasture can produce >1,000 kg/ha/yr LWG and 6,000 kg/ha/yr milk, with stockingrates of 2.5–7.5 animals/ha.
Toxicity:
No record of toxicity.
Contains low levels of soluble oxalate and therefore has low risk of causing oxalate-related animal health problems, i.e. suitable for horses and lactating cows.
Pest / disease resistance:
No major diseases have been found to affect Premier Digitaria.
Leaves however can be affected by a rust in humid environments, and seed heads by a false smut during prolonged wet weather.
Insects pests include spittlebugs (Tomaspis flavopicta, T. humeralis, Prosapia bicincta), rhodes grass mealy bug (Antonina graminis), chinch bug (Blissus leucopterus), sugar-cane aphid (Sipha flava), army worms (Laphigma spp., Spodoptera spp. and Mocis spp.), mole crickets and leafhoppers.
Suggested sowing rates:
Recommended planting rates for AgriCOTE Pro-Tech for Premier Digitaria are:
Marginal dryland:
4 – 6kg per hectare
Good dryland:
8 – 12kg per hectare
Irrigated: 12 – 15kg per hectare Sowing depth:
2 – 3mm
Common Questions
What is Premier Digitaria and what's it used for?
Premier Digitaria is a robust, tufted subtropical perennial pasture grass from Africa. It's used in long-term, permanent pasture for grazing and hay production. It grows erect to 150cm or more and is particularly well suited to inland environments with lower rainfall and severe winter frosts.
What are the main benefits of Premier Digitaria?
Premier is highly productive and persistent, with strong drought, fire, frost and insect resistance. It tolerates short-duration heavy grazing by cattle and sheep, grows well on a wide range of soils, and contains low levels of soluble oxalate, making it suitable for horses and lactating cows.
What sowing rate should I use?
Recommended planting rates for this AgriCOTE seed are: Marginal dryland 4–6 kg per hectare, good dryland 8–12 kg per hectare, and irrigated 12–15 kg per hectare. Sow at a depth of 2–3mm into a fine, firm, clean seedbed.
How should I graze Premier Digitaria to get the best results?
All genotypes of Digitaria are tolerant of heavy grazing. Best results come from regular grazing every 2–3 weeks, with the grass maintained between 10–15 and 30–40 cm. This helps maintain quality and minimise disease incidence.
Do you ship this product Australia-wide?
Yes, this product ships Australia-wide via Australia Post or road courier. Select your preferred shipping method at checkout.
Can I Click & Collect from Gympie?
Yes — Click & Collect is available from our store at 55 Tozer St, Gympie. Open Mon–Fri 8am–5pm and Sat 8am–12pm. Click & Collect is FREE on orders of $175 or more, or a flat $10 on orders under $175. Select Click & Collect at checkout and we will have your order ready.