Reported from the Africa Center of Diversity, gamba grass or cvs thereof is reported to tolerate drought, fire, frost, high pH, heavy soil, low pH, poor soil, savanna, slope, and waterlogging. Also thrives in areas with long dry season up to 7 months long. Adapted to a wide range of soil types, with different ecotypes adapted to various soils varying from sandy to heavy black cracking clays. Very drought resistant and not to susceptible to frost. Cultivation Propagated by seed.
Caryopses germinate better with chaff removed and covered over by soil or sand.
It is often under-sown in corn, sesame or millet. Seed production is often very low. Sometimes grown in mixture with Clitoria ternatea in tropical Australia. Harvesting Plants persist well under grazing, but are only palatable before flowering. The flowering stems, which are produced in quantity, are hard and should be removed by mowing or burning.