Napier grass

Introduction

1. Scientific name: Pennisetum purpureum
2. Tall, robust, perennial forming large, bamboo-like clumps.
3. High-yielding perennial grass is widely recognized as a valuable fodder grass.
4. It attains a height of 2-3 meters with enough tillers which can’t be destroyed by the elephant hence called elephant grass.
5. Spreads by short rhizomes, rooting from lower nodes or falling stems rooting at nodes creating a stolon.
6. The inflorescence is bristly false spike usually yellow-brown in color, more rarely greenish or purplish.

Climate

• Prefers warm climates and can withstand low temperatures in subtropical regions.
• Can grow up to an altitude of 4500 feet.

Soil requirement

• Performs well in well-drained fertile loamy soils with adequate level of lime.
• Can’t survive in iwater-loggeded fields.
• Can be well cultivated as a multipurpose plant in bonds and terraces to prevent soil erosion.

Land preparation

• Plough 5-6 times, manuring and forming ridges and furrows 90 cm apart.
• In areas where ploughing is difficult, can be planted making only the furrows 90 cm apart.

Fertilization

• Requires 125-250 quintals of FYM per hectare of land.
• Better to use FYM before field preparation and top dressing with ammoniumsulfatee in two doses, once in February and again in July.
• NPK at the rate of 100:60:40 per hectare of land.

Propagation

• Planted from setts or cuttings or splits.
• Setts are taken from the basal 2/3 of moderately mature stems and should contain at least 3 nodes.
• Pushed into the soil at 45⁰, basal end down, with 2 nodes buried.
• Normally planted in rows 0.5-2 m apart, and 0.3-1 m apart within rows.
• Closer spacing is required for soil conservation, contour hedgerow, was, and high environments.
• More open spacing is used ina drier environment.

Planting time

• February onwards where there are good irrigation facilities and from June to August in areas where thereares no irrigation facilities.
• Generally, 2-3 interculturaoperationson are necessary to keep down weeds while the grass is getting established.
• Irrigation will be needed at fortnightly intervals and also soon after each cutting except during rain spells.

Nutritive value

• 6 weeks, regrowth 10% 10 weeks week regrowth 7.6% CP.

Yield

• First cutting after three months and subsequent cuttings at six-to-eight-week intervThe averageerage yield is 500-600 quintals of green fodder per hectare per annum.
• With improved cultural practices a yield of 1200-1500 quintals per hectare could be achieved.
• DM yields of 10-30 t/ha/year are common.