What do you mean by Napier grass?
: a tall stout African perennial grass (Pennisetum purpureum) that resembles sugarcane and is widely grown for forage. — called also elephant grass.
What is the scientific name for Napier grass?
Pennisetum purpureum
Napier grass/Scientific names
Cultivation and utilization of Napier grass. Species: Pennisetum purpureum Common Name: Napier grass Varieties: Bana grass, French Cameroon, clone 13 and Kakamega 1 Benefits in a smallholder farming system Gives high herbage yields throughout the year compared to other grasses.
Is Napier grass same as elephant grass?
Napier grass is an improved fodder grass that produces a lot of high-protein forage. It is also known as “elephant grass”, “Sudan grass” or “king grass”. Its botanical name is Pennisetum purpureum. Napier grass is best suited to high rainfall areas, but it is drought-tolerant and can also grow well in drier areas.
How many types of Napier grass are there?
Three napier varieties namely Bana, Ouma and Kakamega 2 which have been proven superior elsewhere were planted for the first time in the WUHs and compared against the existing local variety. Ouma, KK2 and Bana are widely grown by smallholder farmers in the Central and Western Highlands of Kenya [2,5,12,13].
What is napier grass used for?
Napier grasses improve soil fertility, and protect arid land from soil erosion. It is also utilized for firebreaks, windbreaks, in paper pulp production and most recently to produce bio-oil, biogas and charcoal.
What animal eats napier grass?
Elephant grass or Napier grass, as it’s often known, is listed as one of the most important fodder crops for the dairy farmers of East Africa. Its ease of regeneration and high productivity make it perfect for the feeding of cattle, amongst other crop-eating creatures.
What is Napier grass used for?
Is Napier grass profitable?
Like Melli, Kibet earns close to KSh2m per year. According to the National Farmers Information Service (NAFIS), Napier grass makes up to 40 per cent of total diary fodder in Kenya with at least 70 per cent of smallholder farmers in the country growing it.
How do you cut Napier grass?
Cut off an entire stem of Napier grass. Cut the stem at ground level. Remove all of the green parts of the plant, leaving only the portion that is under the soil. Discard the stem and leaves, or use them for compost or animal feed.
How fast does napier grass grow?
Harvesting – You can make your first harvest 90 days after planting. The succeeding harvests can be 45 to 60 days thereafter, depending on the purpose. Cut the grass down to the level of the ground. Irrigate to hasten regrowth.
How fast does Napier grass grow?
What kind of grass is the Napier grass?
Napier grass, also known as elephant grass, Uganda grass, or pennisetum purpureum, is a tropical grass native to Africa.
What can you do with Napier grass cuttings?
It is popular as a feed crop for livestock, and is also useful for attracting pest insects away from important food crops, such as maize. In the US, it is sometimes used as an ornamental plant. Napier grass can be propagated from cuttings or from root slips.
How often do you need to weed Napier grass?
Weed your grass regularly. Napier grass crops need to be weeded frequently, especially if you are growing the grass as feed for livestock. Weed the crop for the first time three weeks after planting, and weed it three or four more times before harvesting the grass. Napier grass is typically ready for harvest after about eight weeks of growth.
Is it OK to grow Napier grass in soggy soil?
Though Napier grass is tolerant to drought and can grow well even in the areas which are dry, it is considered to be suitable to grow in the areas where there is high rainfall. Napier grass does not grow properly in the areas where there is waterlogging. Do not practice napier grass cultivation in soggy soil.