Prairie Grass Seed

Prairie grass is one of the few that does. Matua Prairie Grass keeps its palatability through the growing season, even at seedhead stage, because it produces little lignin, the compound that makes mature grass stalky and indigestible. Bromes like prairie grass also hold their quality when reproductive and handle heat better than ryegrass. That makes Matua a strong option where you need quality feed into the warmer months, on fertile, well-drained country with 650 mm or more of rain.

On fertile, free-draining soil, prairie grass is worth a look. Matua is an annual to short-lived perennial that persists longer than ryegrass and reseeds itself each season, which extends the stand when it is well managed. It also tolerates summer heat better than ryegrass. Expect a short-term pasture of about one to two years from the original plants, with reseeding doing the rest. For a permanent perennial grass, look at phalaris or cocksfoot instead.

No. Prairie grass needs fertile, free-draining soil and does not tolerate waterlogging. Matua also won't tolerate grazing under wet, muddy conditions, because pugging damages the plants. Keep it to well-drained loams and heavier soils that don't hold water. For paddocks that stay wet through winter, a waterlogging-tolerant perennial such as phalaris or tall fescue is a better fit. If only part of the paddock is wet, sow prairie grass on the higher, drier ground and keep stock off after heavy rain.

Usually it comes down to grazing. Matua won't tolerate continuous grazing, so set stocking quickly thins the stand. Persistence also relies on reseeding: allow longer grazing intervals in late spring and early summer so plants can set and drop seed, and new seedlings can come through after the break. Keep fertility up too. Prairie grass needs a phosphorus-based starter at sowing and ongoing nitrogen to stay productive.

Prairie grass pairs well with herbs and legumes. Recommended companions are Tonic Plantain, chicory, Red Clover, white clover, lucerne and annual legumes, which together make a balanced, high-performance pasture. Sow prairie grass as the only grass in the mix to get the most from establishment and grazing utilisation. Tonic Plantain and Red Clover each need 600 mm or more of rain, so they suit the same higher-rainfall country as Matua.

Generally not for a dryland stand. Matua needs at least 650 mm of annual rainfall, so in WA it suits the higher-rainfall parts of the South West and south coast, or irrigated paddocks where water can be applied through dry spells. It also needs fertile, well-drained soil with a pH (CaCl2) of 5.5 or more. In lower rainfall, a hardier perennial such as cocksfoot or phalaris, or an annual ryegrass, will be more reliable.

That sounds like head smut, a seed-borne fungal disease and the main disease of prairie grass. It is best prevented by sowing seed that has been dressed with a fungicide, so ask about seed treatment when you order. Armyworm can also attack prairie grass, so check stands regularly in spring. If you're unsure what you're looking at, get an agronomist to check a sample.

Sow Matua at 25–40 kg/ha, 0.5–1.5 cm deep. The rate is high because prairie grass seed is large, much bigger than ryegrass seed, so you need more kilograms to get a dense stand. Aim for good seed-soil contact in a firm, weed-free seedbed, and calibrate your seeder for the bigger seed. Watch new sowings for red-legged earth mite, which can damage prairie grass seedlings.

Sow in early autumn, into fertile, free-draining, weed-free soil, so plants are up and growing before the cold slows them down. Use a phosphorus-based starter fertiliser at sowing, then apply nitrogen regularly through the season, as prairie grass responds strongly to it. Correct any potassium or sulphur deficiencies before sowing, and lime first if needed, because Matua needs a soil pH (CaCl2) of 5.5 or more.

Graze it in a strict rotation with 25–35 days' rest between grazings, using the shorter interval in cooler months and the longer one over the warmer months. Put enough stock in to graze it quickly, then move them on. Never set stock prairie grass, and keep stock off when the soil is wet and muddy. Leaving around 6–10 cm of stubble after each grazing helps plants recover quickly.