Soil erosion control
Kikuyu grows quickly, and spreads readily thanks to its stolons and rhizomes forming a dense sod that requires minimal management. It is therefore used to control erosion in irrigation channel banks, especially near regulators and water wheels, on river banks, degraded catchments and steep cultivated lands (Mears, 1992; FAO, 2010).
Weed
Because of its vigorous growth and strong competition with grasses and legumes, kikuyu may become a harmful weed in well-fertilized soils (Ecocrop, 2010; FAO, 2010). It is often a weed in arable land or irrigation channels, and intensive control by hand or with herbicides is necessary (Mears, 1992). It is declared a noxious weed in several states of the USA and in some regions of Australia (USDA, 2010; Cook et al., 2005).