Napier grass is a perennial grass that resembles Sugarcane grass. It can produce green grass shoots within 4-5 years of planting. Compared to other grasses, it has a higher yield of green grass shoots and low production costs after the initial year of cultivation. This grass thrives in warm and temperate climates. It cannot tolerate cold and frost but can withstand some drought. However, in the hot and humid regions of the Terai and mid-hill areas, it can produce green grass shoots for up to twelve months.
In the high-altitude regions where the growth is stunted, Napier grass tends to go dormant for about three months after the onset of the autumn season. Napier grass-1 can be cultivated along with other grasses like Cowpea and Glycine. From a nutritional perspective, this grass contains about 8-10% crude protein.
Species Characteristics:
Napier grass-1 is a large plant with long runners and a perennial rhizomatous system. It produces new tillers from its stolons; each plant can have around 20-30 tillers. The leaves are 30-120 centimeters long and 1-5 centimeters wide. It bears inflorescence from its tufted top, which is about 30 centimeters long and has some white-cream coloration. The seeds are tiny and resemble the shape of a mustard seed. From one inflorescence, around 30 sources can be obtained. Due to its low seed vigor, propagation is usually done by dividing its rhizomes for plant distribution.
Water and Soil:
Napier grass-1 prefers warm water climates and can be grown in the Terai and mid-hill regions. It cannot tolerate frost. When the leaves become too thick, they may wither, but the rhizomes remain alive. It can be grown in various types of soils, but it thrives best in well-drained loamy soil with a slightly acidic pH of 5-8.
Soil Preparation:
It should be deeply plowed and enriched with well-decomposed manure to prepare the soil. Napier grass-1 requires a sufficient amount of waste. Applying 10 tons of compost manure per hectare is recommended during land preparation. Additionally, if 80 kg of nitrogen, 40 kg of phosphorus, and 30 kg of potassium per hectare are applied, it can promote a higher yield of green grass shoots. After cutting the green grass, 20 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare should be top-dressed.
Planting Time:
Napier grass-1 can be planted throughout the year if irrigation facilities are available. However, it is generally produced from Falgun (February-March) to Asar (June-July). Planting it when ample water is open in the field is advisable. The distance between rows should be around 1 meter, and the distance between plants within a row should be 50 cm.
Seed Quantity:
Napier grass-1 is usually vegetatively propagated for propagation by planting rhizome cuttings with at least one bud. These cuttings are called “sets.” For a healthy plant population, at least three healthy buds are required in a set. Sets should be planted in rows with a spacing of 1 meter between lines and 5 centimeters deep in the soil. Approximately 10,000 (1.5-2.0 tons) sets are required per hectare.
Irrigation:
After planting Napier grass-1, irrigation should be provided within a few days (within a week) to promote the sprouting of rhizomes. With proper irrigation management, irrigation should be fed every 10-15 days based.
