History of Gamba Grass in the Northern Territory.

Gamba Grass was first introduced into Australia, from Africa in 1931, for trialing as an improved pasture species for livestock feed. However, trials did not commence until 1946 at the Katherine Research Station and continued at Berrimah Farm in the 1950s. Over the next 25 years many sites were sown as further evaluation trials in areas including the Daly river region, the Douglas region, the Finniss region, Mount Bundey, Tortilla Flats Research farm in the Adelaide river region and at Wildman river station. Gamba grass cultivar Kent was released through the NT Herbage Plants Liaison Committee in 1978 and commercial quantities of seed were available in 1983, after which sowings were carried out on a number of pastoral properties.