Pennisetum purpureum - Napier grass

Description and Uses

Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) is a tropical grass from East Africa . It is mainly grown for its fodder crops , which have a short shelf life. The crop is harvested by pruning. It starts flowering after 3 - 4 years. The yield will be 20 tonnen/acre, but in its top season there will be a yield of 40 tonnes/acre. Other crop types include; fertilization, mulch, repellent pesticide, fodder, . The root is used as inedible . The shoot is used as " anti-arthritic activity, " with proteins (8.00% - 8.40%) as its significant phytochemical. There is napier grass oil extracted by steam distillation from the grass's fresh leaf yielding 1.80% - 1.90% oil. The grass's wood is called inapplicable and has a density of 450 - 600 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the grass's growing speed is very fast, it's energetic value is 4209 ckal/kg and the wood's drying speed is slow. After 1 years the grass can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Pennisetum purpureum has a lifespan of 10 years.

Environmental limitations

The grass is 7 meters tall with a crown of 1 meters wide. The grass prefers a planting distance of 10 cm and a row distance of 300 cm. It is very fast growing and intolerant to shade. Pennisetum purpureum has a shallow root-system and it has symbiotic associations with the fungi (endo-mycorrhiza high). It is able to fix nitrogen moderately with "Rhizobiaceae bacteria. The name(s) or string of bacteria include(s) "Sinorhizobium americanum ". The grass's flower-morphology is monoecious and is pollinated by wind. Pennisetum purpureum is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Pennisetum purpureum thrives in an altitude of 10 to 2000 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 2°C; optimally between 25 - 40°C. The optimal rainfall is 1500 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 750 - 1500mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 8.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is a bit tolerant to wind tolerant and to fire tolerant.

Pests and Diseases

Pennisetum purpureum is susceptible to the following pests: Aphelenchus avenae , Busseola fusca . And it's susceptible to the following diseases: Smut , Napier grass stunt , .

Seed Propagation

Seeds are epigeous and can be stored for 7 months. There are approximative 3000000 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed:

• (1) Store harvested seeds dry at room temperature
• (3) Remove the seeds from cold to a permanent warm temperature.
• (1) Store harvested seeds moisty at a chilling temperature of 3-7 degrees C for 1-2 months