Super Napier can yield up to 200 tons per acre in a year, which makes it more reasonable to be known as ‘King of Napiers’ in and around Asia. It prefers a deep fertile soil and when it is established, soils or lands in eroded and rocky, water logged, salt affected and very acidic should be avoided. To evaluate the regeneration rate of the two varieties of Napier grass under study (Uganda hairless and Hairy Napier Variety) 2.0LITERATURE RIVIEW 2.1Description of Napier grass. Basically, this is a perennial grass fodder and possesses more tillers and leaves than Napier grass and is more vigorous and yielding and quality is higher. So, later each napier grass seed obtained Urea, KCL and TSP with the amount according to the calculation. Nine varieties of Napier grass were grown in a randomized complete block design with five replications to characterize and compare their growth, agronomic performance and nutritive quality. An experiment was conducted to assess the herbage yield and chemical composition of 4 varieties of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) harvested at 3 different days after planting. 1 Department of Crop Science,3Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang Selangor Malaysia 2 Universiti Teknologi MARA, Negeri Sembilan Branch Malaysian J. Anim. It is also commonly grown in borders of many crops as windbreak and firebreak. Total oxalate content in whole plant differed significantly among varieties. An experiment was conducted to assess the relative superiority of digestibility of 4 varieties (V), 3 harvest dates (HD) and 2 plant fractions (PF) of Napier grass cultivated and harvested in the humid forest zone of Ghana. Types of varieties. Six cultivars grouped as tall type (> 130 cm) cultivars (Common Napier, Red Napier, Taiwan Napier, Indian Napier, Uganda Napier and King Grass) and three cultivars grouped as short types (< 90 cm) cultivars (Dwarf Napier, Dwarf "Mott", Australian Dwarf) (Halim et al. Mott (PM), P. purpureum cv. Nine varieties of Napier grass were grown in a randomized complete block design with five replications to characterize and compare their growth, agronomic performance and nutritive quality. If for dairy cows, the feed should be qualified. Growing up to 1.5 metres in optimal soils and climatic conditions, the Brachiaria grass, with its dark green blades, produc­es seeds unlike Napier. Napier grass is the most popular fodder used in dairy and feedlot production. 1987).It is the forage of choice not only in the tropics but also worldwide (Hanna et al. Napier grass was first introduced in Malaysia in the 1920’s from East Africa and is currently the most popular fodder grass in dairy and feedlot production systems. The protein content must be high. Except for the Local variety, all were improved varieties from ILCA (now ILRI). It is also cultivated in some areas as a palatable graze for animals and a groundcover to reduce erosion and quickly revegetate denuded soil. The varieties were; Local, 16798, 16786 and 16840. In East Africa, Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is a perennial grass grown widely as a fodder crop and feed for the cut-and-carry zero-grazing dairy systems and constitutes up to 80 % of forage for smallholder dairy farms (Staal et al. Chloris gayana is a species of grass known by the common name Rhodes grass. In addition, Elephant/Napier grass varieties responded differently across the demonstrated environments due to differential responses of the climatic and biotic factors. Napier-bajra is hybridization between bajra and elephant grass. Main varieties of hybrid Napier grass are, Pusa Giant, IGFRI 5, NB 21, NB 37, IGFRI 7 and IGFRI 10. Basic requirements Napier grass is best grown in warm, tropical and subtropical regions. Introduction. Napier grass also performs well in the temperatures varying between 26°C to 42°C. ‘From a distance it resembles Napier grass, but on a closer look, the difference becomes more pronounced. 2013 16(2): 37-44 Sci. Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) commonly referred to as elephant grass is popular fodder crop for small scale dairy farmers in the high and medium potential dairy production areas of Kenya under the cut & carry system of production. Harrison (4) conducted digestion trials with fresh Napier grass and found the digestion coefficients to be: For crude protein 63, for crude fiber 64, for nitrogen-free extract 60, and for crude fat 57. Green Fodder – Hybrid Napier Grass. The CH 4 yield obtained from Napier grass at cutting intervals of 30, 45, 60 and 90 days was 160, 127, 104 and 74 L at STP/kg of dry Napier grass added to the reactor, respectively, which indicated that 6.25, 7.87, 9.62 and 13.51 kg of dry Napier grass, respectively, is needed to produce 1 m 3 of pure CH 4. six cultivars of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) which is 3rd Generation Napier, India Napier, Kobe Napier, Red Napier, Taiwan Napier and Zanzibar Napier. Hybrid PMN3 outperformed napier grass varieties and the other hybrids for yield, while 5344 showed higher nutritional content and digestibility than most other grasses. Types of pests and diseases. It has a soft stem that is easy to cut. 2013). Napier grass is typically ready for harvest after about eight weeks of growth. As a The grasses were cut close to the ground level to get a uniform stand on day 70 after planting and the cutting intervals were at 35 and 42 days and carried out for 3 times. Pasture species and varieties used in NSW and listed below are categorised as: temperate or tropical grass; temperate or tropical legume; native grass; pasture herb; forage shrub ; For a brief explanation of the main pasture plant groups and their characteristics, go to Categories of pasture plants. Propagation . Whole plant of the Dwarf Napier grass contained significantly higher soluble oxalate content than tall varieties. It is a very versatile species that can be grown under a wide range of conditions and systems: dry or wet conditions, smallholder or larger scale agriculture. Dwarf showed the highest total oxalate content (3.23% dry matter (DM)) followed by Kobe (2.61%), Zanzibar (2.60%), Purple (2.44%), Taiwan (2.43%), Indian (2.15%), and Pakchong (1.95%). Napier grass (NP) or elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is widely grown in Thailand and is promising for the development as an energy crop due to its high biomass production, ability to be harvested several times per year, and good adaptation to different growth conditions (Eliana et al., 2014, Phitsuwan et al., 2015). Optimum temperature for growth is usually 25 – 40 C 0 and grows better in full sunlight. Chemical fertilizer. Napier grass also grows very well at an altitude of 1800 m to 2000m above the sea level. Citation Bezabih, M., Adie, A., Worku, M., Duncan, A. and Jones, C. 2019. It does not grow well in waterlogged areas. Paterson (8, 9) reported the composition of two varieties, for the entire plant, harvested at short intervals. It is native to Africa but it can be found throughout the tropical and subtropical world as a naturalized species. The yield and nutritive value of 4 napier grass varieties (Bana grass, Mott, MB4 and N51) and 4 PMN hybrids (PMN2, PMN3, 5344 and 4604) were determined with or without irrigation in a strip plot design in Hawaii. Red (PR), and P. purpureum cv. It is a fast growing, deeply rooted, perennial grass growing up to 4 metres tall that can spread by underground stems to form thick ground cover. Napier grass crops need to be weeded frequently, especially if you are growing the grass as feed for livestock. The tissue culture of these hybrid was developed by a scientist in Thailand. It can be grown along with fodder trees along field boundaries or along contour lines or terrace risers to help control erosion. Napier grass is grown along maize or sorghum (in rows or in borders) to reduce the stem borer population. Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) Napier grass is best suited to high rainfall areas, but it is drought-tolerant and can also grow well in drier areas. Three Napier grass varieties, P. purpureum cv. In Kenya, the average dry matter yields vary between 10 and 40 t DM ha-1 yr-1 depending on soil fertility, climate, and management (Schreuder et al., 1993). Elephant grass for diary cows. Ten Napier grass [Pennisetum purpureum Schumach (Poaceae)] varieties, used in various parts of Kenya as animal fodder, were tested for their potential role as a trap crop in the management of the gramineous spotted stemborer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), through habitat manipulation. Elephant grass alone will not be enough. Similar to other hybrid Napier varieties, CO-3 grass grows best in high rainfall areas (in excess of 1500 mm per year). General Information . Brachiaria grass closely resembles Napier grass but when one looks closer, the difference becomes more pronounced. Stem cuttings were planted in rows with spacing 0.5 m x 0.5 m, laying them horizontally on the ground and covering with soil. Weed the crop for the first time three weeks after planting, and weed it three or four more times before harvesting the grass. Super Napier is unlike all other grass fodder types, a highly yieldable grass that has a whopping crude protein content of 14 to 18%. Napier grass was first introduced to Malaysia in the 1920’s and there were many cultivars introduced in Malaysia since 1950’s. The Pakchong has been proven to yield higher energy than other types of napier grass and is ideal as feedstock for biomass power plants. It can grow in many types of habitat. The hairy nature of some Napier grass varieties traps moisture thus creating a suitable micro-catchment for a fungal infestation (white mold, Spharaedea beniwoskia). And grows well up to an altitude of 2000 m from sea level. varieties of Napier grass (Uganda hairless and hairy Napier varieties) Other objectives. The grass grows to up to 1.5 metres in height, it has dark green blades, and produces seeds unlike Napier grass. is a major tropical grass.It is one of the highest yielding tropical grasses. Napier grass was first introduced in Malaysia in the 1920's from East Africa and is currently the most popular fodder grass in dairy and feedlot production systems. On the other hand, dwarf and semi-dwarf Napier grass varieties have been shown to contain a higher CP content and lower ADF and hence are considered to be more suited as a forage for dairy farming applications . The highest record was at Dodota (10.62 t/ha) followed by Wahil (9.61 t/ha) in comparison with the rest sites Kile and Bishan Bahe because of field management and other climate conditions. Napier grass is a hardy grass that can grow up in clumps up to seven meters in height and is particularly important as a forage and pasture grass, erosion inhibitor, mulch, and as a windbreak for other crops. The advantage of Napier grass is that it propagates easily. Napier plant grass can also undergo intercropping with the crops like fodder trees, legumes etc. The varieties tested were obtained from ILRI (formerly ILCA) were Local, 16798, 16786 and 16840 and used in a 4x3 factorial arrangement of treatments with four replicate plots each. Seven varieties of Napier grass (Taiwan, Zanzibar, Pakchong, Purple, Kobe, Indian and Dwarf) were purchased from a local supplier (Adi Farm, Segamat, Malaysia). Therefore, giving elephant grass should be added with other feed, such as concentrate. Bajra or pearl millets is grown for grain as well as for fodder purpose whereas Napier or elephant grass is mainly cultivated as forage crop. However, there is a need to have comparative evaluation of these Napier cultivars so that definite recommendations can be made in the choice and management of the respective cultivars. Yield and Nutritive Quality of Nine Napier Grass Varieties in Malaysia Halim* 1, R. A., Shampazuraini 2, S. and Idris 3, A.B. This crop contains crude protein from 8 to 10%.