Twelve accessions/cultivars of Napier grass consisting of local
collections, and introductions from various sites in Kenya and from
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) were planted in a
split plot design in which the main plot was cultivar and fertilization
(with and without) was sub-plot treatment and replicated three
times. The 8 new cultivars/accessions were Kakamega 1,
Kakamega 3, Uganda L 14, Machakos hairless, Soghor Nandi L 13,
Kitui L 7, Ex-Mariakani and Kakamega 8 and the four
recommended cultivars were Bana, French Cameroon, Clone 13
and Pakistan hybrid. Experimental plots dimensions were 2 m × 3
m with a 1 m border between plots and 2 m path between
replicates. Napier grass was planted using root splits at an interand
intra-row spacing of 100 and 100 cm, respectively, giving a
total of 12 stools per plot. The fertilizer treatments were planted
using recommended fertilizer rate (26 kg P ha-1 yr-1 at planting and
60 kg N ha-1 as annual top-dress. The experiment was conducted
for two growing seasons in 2001 and 2002. After establishment,
Napier grass was cut back 3 months after planting and there after it
was cut after every 8 weeks for data collection. During the
establishment year in 2001 there were three cuts, whereas in 2002
there were six cuts.