Tropical kudzu can be cultivated alone or in association with several erect grasses such as Para grass (Brachiaria mutica), bread grass (Brachiaria brizantha), cori grass (Brachiaria miliiformis), Congo grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis), Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus), molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora), Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum). However, it does not do as well with signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) and pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha) (FAO, 2015; Cook et al., 2005). In oil palm plantations, tropical kudzu gave the highest yield in association with Guinea grass or Congo grass (Ezenwa et al., 1996). When it is intended to be used in association with grasses, tropical kudzu should be oversown into an established sward. It has a positive effect on grass growth and remains productive when other grasses are affected by drought (Telford et al., 1947)
Tropical kudzu is mainly propagated by seeds. The seeds should be scarified before being broadcast or drilled onto a well-prepared, weed-free seedbed. For pasture, a seeding rate of 0.5-1 kg seed/ha is recommended. Where tropical kudzu is being introduced the seeds should be inoculated with an appropriate strain of Bradyrhizobium (Halim, 1997). When seeds are not available, vegetative propagation can be done by planting rooted stolons at a spacing of 1-2 m. Tropical kudzu should be planted at the beginning of the rainy season. Under irrigation, a valuable stand can be obtained in less than 6 months (Telford et al., 1947). The first months of establishment are somewhat difficult and require weeding. After that, the tropical kudzu becomes more aggressive and effectively smothers weeds (Halim, 1997). Tropical kudzu grows throughout the year (Telford et al., 1947).
Yield
Tropical kudzu may be grazed, cut for cut-and-carry or conserved as hay or silage. Dry matter yields are very variable, ranging from a 3-6 t/ha to over 20 t/ha, depending on the cultivation method (alone or in association with other grasses, under trees in a plantation or a sole crop) (Ezenwa et al., 1996; Magat et al., 1976). In Nigeria, yields of tropical kudzu grown with guinea grass under palm trees were under 5.9 tons DM/ha (Ezenwa et al., 1996).
Pasture
As tropical kudzu is sensitive to defoliation and very palatable to livestock (Skerman, 1982), it should not be heavily grazed, particularly when grown on poorly drained soils. Continuous or rotational lenient grazing is recommended. Tropical kudzu was reported to be poorly persistent after two years grazing when it was sown in poorly drained, compacted soils (Halim, 1997). A stocking rate of 2-6 local cattle on a mixed sward of tropical kudzu and other grasses significantly reduced the tropical kudzu ratio in only one year (Halim, 1997). Though not very resistant to high stocking rates when grazed, it was successfully used in Acre, Brazil, where it helped establishing new pastures for cattle (Valentim et al., 2005). It was recommended not to cut below 25 cm high to encourage rooting and drought resistance in a tropical kudzu/molasses grass mixture (Halim, 1997).
Hay and silage
Tropical kudzu can be dried for hay. In Colombia, it yielded 4 tons of hay (Skerman, 1982). It was shown that the optimal cutting interval for hay quality was 60 days (Hiep et al., 2008a). It was also possible to make silage from a mixture of tropical kudzu and elephant grass or from a mixture of tropical kudzu and Pennisetum purpurascens (Skerman, 1982).
