Brachiaria

Brachiaria is a genus of tropical grasses in the Poaceae family, with several species cultivated as high-yield forage for cattle, sheep, and goats in tropical and subtropical regions. In many classifications, many Brachiaria species have been placed in the related genus Urochloa, but the Brachiaria name remains widely used in agriculture.

Native to Africa, the Americas, and parts of Asia, Brachiaria grasses have been introduced globally for pasture. They are valued for tolerance of acidic, low-fertility soils, heat, and drought, and for producing substantial biomass with good regrowth after grazing. Most species are perennial with extensive root systems; growth forms range from erect to stoloniferous, and inflorescences are open panicles.

Important species include Brachiaria brizantha (signal grass), Brachiaria ruziziensis, Brachiaria decumbens (creeping signal grass), Brachiaria humidicola (humidicola), and Brachiaria mutica (para grass). These and related forms form the basis of pasture systems in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and have been improved through breeding to enhance yield, forage quality, and stress tolerance.

Management benefits include rapid ground cover, erosion control, and resilience under frequent grazing when paired with appropriate nutrition and fertilizer.