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Brachiaria sp
A perennial grass used for multiple functions on range management
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Physical and Morphological Features
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Figure 1.Taxonomic Hierarchy of Brachiaria sp
Most studied Brachiaria ( Brachiria decumbens )
Signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) is a medium-lived perennial grass with a robust, rhizomatous, and stoloniferous rhizomatous and stoloniferous rhizomatous and stoloniferous rhizomatous and stoloniferous rhizomatous It has a thick root structure with numerous bunched, fast-growing roots that can reach depths of 2 meters. Signal grass grows up to 60 cm tall and has a prostrate or decumbent form. The blooming stems, which emerge from the stolons, can reach a height of one meter (Husson et al., 2006).
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Figure 2 & 3. A sketch of a Brachiaria decumbens and A photograph of Brachiaria sp
Figure 4. A data of limitation of using Signal grass as reported by Pasture Australia
Map 1. Signal Grass Distribution
A video of Brachiaria from Farmers' Voice Ke
Utilization of the Brachiara sp
In agricultural plantations and other settings, signal grass produces an excellent ground cover and promotes fertility and soil structure. Signal grass may be used to recover lead-contaminated sites, roadside areas, and urban areas where lead contamination is prevalent (Kopittke et al., 2007).
The tropical and subtropical grass signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf or Urochloa decumbens (Stapf) R. D. Webster) is commonly grown for fodder. (Feedipedia, 2020).
Brachiaria Grasses (Brachiaria spp.) harbor a diverse bacterial community with multiple attributes beneficial to plant growth and development
Adaptation to marginal soils, water stress and shade tolerance, high biomass production potential, ability to sequester carbon, increased nitrogen use efficiency through biological nitrification inhibition (BNI), and thus the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ground water pollutions are all desirable traits of Brachiaria grasses. The genus of Brachiaria enhances cattle production since it is a very palatable and nutritious feed. Furthermore, Brachiaria is a key ecological agent that contributes to soil improvement and erosion management. (Mutai et al., 2017).
Signal grass augmented the population of Solenopsis geminata, a predator of the banana weevil (Cosmopolitus sordidus), in banana plantations in the French West Indies, helping to manage this pest (Mollot et al., 2012).
Other utilization facts based on scientific articles
Whether the plants are stressed or not, cattle grazing meadows with signal grass pose a possible health risk. These findings support the hypothesis that signal grass is the primary source of secondary photosensitization in cattle grazing sub-tropical grassland pastures in this state. Signal grass is typically disregarded by horses, but it might develop a 'big-head' if calcium is not supplied if an alternate diet is not available (DPIRD Australia, 2021).
Brachiara species distribution in the Philippines
- Para grass (Brachiaria mutica)
! Para grass is a robust grass that tolerates some shading. In the Philippines, it may thrive beneath old coconut trees, but it is sensitive to weeds. Fires cannot remove the para grass (Cook et al., 2005).
! In the Philippines, its mainly called as babaka-nalabaga, from Ilocos region it is known as mara-kawayan.
! In cut-and-carry systems and grazing, para grass (Brachiaria mutica) is commonly utilized for ruminant nutrition (Kondo et al., 2015)
! The most frequent grasses found under coconut trees are para grass (Brachiaria mutica). Para grass may be found in most parts of Mindanao, although it is most common in Davao Province (Moog ,2009).
- Brachiaria brizantha
! In the wet seasons, Brachiaria brizantha produces an excellent herbage production, produces large seed yields towards the end of the wet season, and remains green in the midst of the dry season (Gabunada et al.,1998).
- Signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens)
Figure 5. Gabunada et al 1998 reports for the Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria humidicola
! Signal grass is utilized as a soil stabilizer to prevent erosion on steep slopes of roadsides and dams, as well as for pastures. In 2001 and 2002, 6 tonnes of Signal grass seeds were brought in for soil stabilization of the San Roque Multipurpose Dam Project, 5 tonnes for the Sual Power Generating Plant Project, both in Pangasinan; 5 tonnes by Bulacan Garden for hydroseeding projects; and 2 tonnes to control soil erosion on slopes of a golf course in Antipolo, Rizal (Moog, 2009).
Figure 6. Signal grass under coconuts in Albay (Moog, 2009)