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.
Controls maize stalkborer by trapping the ovipositing moths if planted round the maize
moths.
Protects the maize from strong winds if planted round a maize field.
Napier grass can also be sold as green fodder.
Holds soil together and prevents run off and erosion if planted round the maize
Institutions where developed
Bana grass and French Cameroon were collected from South and West Africa and
developed to fit into the Kenyan smallholder farming system at NARC Kitale.
Clone 13 was selected from French Cameroon by scientists from NARC Kitale and is
resistant to snow mould fungal disease.
Kakamega 1 was developed by the Regional Research Centre Kakamega through
collections supplied by ILRI and is tolerant to headsmut fungal disease.
Areas where adapted
• Low to medium altitude areas
• Zones 11, 111 and IV
• Can grow in a wide range of well drained soils.
• Rainfall in excess of 900 nun per year is required for high herbage yields.
Growing period 2
• Recommended to remain in same field for 3 to 5 years.
Land preparation
• Plough and harrow the field well before planting .
(i.e. seedbed should be as good as that for planting maize ).
How to plant: Two methods may be used, namely:
1. Conventional method
• Dig up a width of 15-20 cm and a depth of 15-20 cm at a spacing of 3 ft (90 cm)
between rows x 2 ft (60 cm) between plants.
• In each hole apply one or two handfuls of farm yard manure (10 tons/ha FYM) or
(20 to 40 Kg P205 /ha)
• Place a 3-node cane at a slanting position in the soil, ensuring that two nodes are
covered by the soil.
• Place the root splits into the planting holes and cover with soil
2. Tumbukiza method
This method gives higher herbage yields even during the dry season than the
conventional method. There are two types of tumbukiza, namely the round pit type and
the rectangular pit type.
For round pits dig up a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 60 cm. The rows of pits should
be 60 cm apart.
For rectangular pits:
- Dig pits 60 cm deep by 60-90 cm wide
- The length of the pit can vary depending on available land
- The pits should be 90 cm apart
F
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.
Controls maize stalkborer by trapping the ovipositing moths if planted round the maize
moths.
Protects the maize from strong winds if planted round a maize field.
Napier grass can also be sold as green fodder.
Holds soil together and prevents run off and erosion if planted round the maize
Institutions where developed
Bana grass and French Cameroon were collected from South and West Africa and
developed to fit into the Kenyan smallholder farming system at NARC Kitale.
Clone 13 was selected from French Cameroon by scientists from NARC Kitale and is
resistant to snow mould fungal disease.
Kakamega 1 was developed by the Regional Research Centre Kakamega through
collections supplied by ILRI and is tolerant to headsmut fungal disease.
Areas where adapted
• Low to medium altitude areas
• Zones 11, 111 and IV
• Can grow in a wide range of well drained soils.
• Rainfall in excess of 900 nun per year is required for high herbage yields.
Growing period 2
• Recommended to remain in same field for 3 to 5 years.
Land preparation
• Plough and harrow the field well before planting .
(i.e. seedbed should be as good as that for planting maize ).
How to plant: Two methods may be used, namely:
1. Conventional method
• Dig up a width of 15-20 cm and a depth of 15-20 cm at a spacing of 3 ft (90 cm)
between rows x 2 ft (60 cm) between plants.
• In each hole apply one or two handfuls of farm yard manure (10 tons/ha FYM) or
(20 to 40 Kg P205 /ha)
• Place a 3-node cane at a slanting position in the soil, ensuring that two nodes are
covered by the soil.
• Place the root splits into the planting holes and cover with soil
2. Tumbukiza method
This method gives higher herbage yields even during the dry season than the
conventional method. There are two types of tumbukiza, namely the round pit type and
the rectangular pit type.
For round pits dig up a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 60 cm. The rows of pits should
be 60 cm apart.
For rectangular pits:
- Dig pits 60 cm deep by 60-90 cm wide
- The length of the pit can vary depending on available land
- The pits should be 90 cm apart
F
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