N A P I E R G R A S S
Botanical name: Pennisetum purpureum Schumach
Origin : Napier or elephant grass is native of Rhodesia in South Africa. The name “Napier grass" is given in honour of Col. Napier, who first drew the attention of the Rhodesian Department of Agriculture in 1909 to the fodder value of this grass. It was introduced in India in 1920 from South Africa.
Family : Gramineae
Variety
Pusa Giant Napier, Gajraj, Hybrid Napier 21, Pusa Napier-1 and 2, APBN-1
Field preparation
The field should be prepared well. After harvesting of previous Kharif crop, deep ploughing should be done by mould board plough followed either by tractor drawn cultivator or harrowing twice followed by planking.
Sowing time
Napier grass should be planted with pre-monsoon showers in the months of June-July.
Method of sowing
Napier grass can be propagated by stem cutting and rooted slips, as the hybrid seeds are sterile.
Seed rate
Preparation of stem cutting
1) Three budded sets may be inserted into the soil in a slanting manner at an angle of 450 to the ground. Two buds should remain inside the soil and one above ground (exposing to the atmosphere).
2) Planting stem is cut like sugarcane. Furrows are opened with a small ridger or a Desi plough and three budded sets are placed end to end in these furrows. Planking is done to cover the sets and irrigation is applied, if moisture in the soil is insufficient for sprouting of the bud planting rooted slips.
Break up the old clumps and separate the tillers alongwith their roots. Each slip should have one or two tillers about 10 to 12 cm in height along with the roots and inserted into the soil by digging a hole with a weeding hook (khurpi). This is the best method particularly in the summer season when the stems in the first two methods are likely to dry up in the hot Desiccating winds. Rooted slips should be preferred for planting in summer season under irrigation for easy establishment.
Manures and fertilizers
Apply 10 tonnes of FYM with 50 kg nitrogen, 30 kg P2O5 and 30 kg K20/ha at the time of field preparation as basal dose. In addition to this, phosphorus @ 30 kg/ha should be applied every year in the commencement of monsoon season. After taking each cut, nitrogen may be applied @ 50 kg/ha in two splits, 25 kg N/ha just after cutting of fodder and 25 kg N/ha in between two cutting which increase protein and green fodder yield.
Irrigation
In Kharif season, if dry spell occur, irrigation should be given at 15 to 20 days interval depending upon soil texture and atmospheric conditions prevails. The field should be kept well drained during the rainy season, as the crop cannot withstand wet conditions for more than a few days.
Interculturing and weeding
In each season, interculturing should be done twice or thrice as and when found necessary. Weeding may be done as and when required.
Harvesting or cutting management
The first cut is generally taken after 2 months from planting and subsequent cuts can be taken at regular interval of 45 days for green forage yield. At this stage, the crop is nutritious, succulent and palatable and attains a height of about one and half metre. This crop should not be cut before 35 days, because younger crop contains high amounts of oxalates, which is toxic (harmful) to the animals. Cutting should be done by leaving a stubble height of 25 to 30 cm from the ground level so as to avoid damage to the young growing buds near the base of the plant. If cutting is delayed, it becomes coarser and unpalatable.
The oxalate content in Napier grass varies from 3 to 6%. It depletes body calcium and damages the kidneys of the animals.
Therefore, feeding fodder by harvesting it at pre boot stage and mixing it with forage legumes and cereals minimizing the toxic effect.
Yield : 2000- 2500 q/ha per year
