Table of Contents
What are the varieties of Napier grass?
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].
How tall does Napier grass grow?
Native to tropical Africa, napier grass grows as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, typically reaching 3 to 4 feet tall. This easy-care grass features purple-black foliage and upright, spiky growth habits. Some varieties, such as “Prince,” grow up to 6 feet tall.
How many days Napier grass take to grow?
The Napier grass will be ready for the harvesting to be done in about 180 to 240 days from the day of the plantation and the continuation of harvest can be done at for every 42 to 60 days and this can be done up to 5 years. Stem length of up to 12 cms should be left from the ground at the time of harvesting.
How do you take care of napier grass?
Apply the fertilizer around the plants during periods of rainfall or before watering. Napier grass grows best in areas that get plenty of water. If your area does not get rain then you need to make sure that you pay attention to watering the grass regularly. But make sure that you don’t get your grass waterlogged.
How does Napier grass spread?
Napier grass is an aggressive plant that spreads through rhizomes under the ground. If it is not controlled, it can invade crop fields and become a weed. The older stems and leaves are less palatable for livestock.
What is red Napier grass?
Description. Australian Red Napier (Pennisetum purpureum cross) are multi-cut hybrid green fodder grass, by using Animal Husbandry like Cow, Buffalo, Goat, Sheep, Pig, Poultry, Rabbi, it were classified as tall type, it adopt all the climatic conditions anywhere in India.
How many cows can one acre of Napier grass feed?
One acre of Napier grass planted by the conventional method can give enough feed for 1 to 2 dairy cows for one year.
What animal eats Napier grass?
Napier grass is the most important fodder crop for the dairy farmers in East Africa. Its high productivity makes it particularly suited to feed cattle and buffaloes.
What is the best grass for cows to eat?
Alfalfa- It is probably the best high quality feed for livestock and as a cash crop but it requires deep, well drained soils and high fertility for high yields.
Does Napier grass produce flowers?
Infected plants show thinner, shorter stems and produce few small size leaves. The shoot become hard and flowers prematurely.
What is the yield of Napier Cumbu grass?
Yield range for hybrid Napier cumbu grass is between 160 t0 165 tons an acre each year. For milk production, the plant can increase milk yield up to 300 ml per lactating cattle. For goats and sheep, feeding them hybrid Napier cumbu grass will increase body weight.
What does Napier grass look like?
Napier grass is also called “elephant grass.” Shoots grow tall and in grassy clumps that look similar to bamboo. While Napier grass grows native to the continent of Africa, hybrid Napier grasses grow abundantly throughout the Indian subcontinent. They are very hardy plant species that tiller freely.
Why choose hybrid Napier grass for cattle farming?
The quick regeneration of hybrid Napier grass makes it an incredibly sustainable and affordable way for farmers to field their cattle. Every four to five years, farmers will get an excellent yield, and they can make up to 8 cuts per year. Yield range for hybrid Napier cumbu grass is between 160 t0 165 tons an acre each year.
Is Cumbu Napier Co5 good for cattle?
But the natural Napier grasses are not as palatable to cattle, nor are they drought resistant. Hybrid Napier grasses , on the other hand, are juicier, drought-resistant, and fast-growing. Why is Cumbu Napier CO5 a superior agricultural product?