The considerable advantages of Elephant grass include ease of growth, having a longer lifespan, not needing pesticides or fertilisers and are low maintenance. It is primarily used to manufacture paper, handicraft articles, charcoal, oil and bio-fuel. It is generally cultivated to create boundaries due to its denseness.
What is the nutritional value of elephant grass?
The range of protein content of elephant grass varies from 4.4 to 20.4% with the mean around 12% (Table 1). This value is not too different from the report of Xie et al (2009) that crude protein of elephant grass ranged from 4 – 15%.
Can you eat elephant grass?
Elephant grass, as implied by its name, is an important source of forage for elephants in Africa (Tchamba et al., 1993; Francis, 2004). Elephant grass is a multipurpose plant. The young leaves and shoots are edible by humans and can be cooked to make soups and stews (Burkill, 1985).
Why is it called elephant grass?
Its ease of regeneration and high productivity make it perfect for the feeding of cattle, amongst other crop-eating creatures. It is also an essential source of forage for elephants throughout Africa, hence its name “elephant grass”.
What is benefit of elephant grass? – Related Questions
What are the four uses of elephant grass?
Elephant grass is also used for making table mats, sleeping mats, decorative wall hangings, etc.
What is another name for elephant grass?
Cenchrus purpureus, synonym Pennisetum purpureum, also known as Napier grass, elephant grass or Uganda grass, is a species of perennial tropical grass native to the African grasslands.
How do you harvest elephant grass?
Harvesting takes place following complete die back of leaves and when Ground conditions allow travel. The higher the moisture when the crop is harvested, then the longer the crop will have to sit on the ground to dry.
Which plant is also known as king of grass?
Napier grass is an improved fodder grass that produces a lot of high-protein forage. It is also known as “elephant grass”, “Sudan grass” or “king grass”. Its botanical name is Pennisetum purpureum.
What animals eat elephant grass?
Elephant grass is widely used to feed cattle both in cut and carry systems and in the form of pasture, but especially as silage.
Why do farmers grow elephant grass?
Miscanthus, also known as elephant grass, can be used as animal bedding or furnace fuel, but it can also be used to make building materials, paper, bioplastics or biofuels.
Is elephant grass toxic to dogs?
This plant may be nice to look at, but it can be toxic to your dog. In fact, it can even be fatal if not treated right away. If your dog eats any part of the elephant ear plant, the first symptom you might see is also the deadliest; a swollen airway leading to inability to breathe.
Where does elephant grass grow?
Elephant grass is a tall grass that originally came from Africa in 1913. It grows in dense clumps of up to 10 feet tall. In the savannas of Africa it grows along lake beds and rivers where the soil is rich.
Does elephant grass need water?
Elephant grass is a tough plant resistant to drought periods, but regular water will help them become even stronger and more resistant.
How do you identify elephant grass?
The large leaf blades (20-120 cm long and 1-5 cm wide) have a prominent whitish central vein the seed-head is spike-like (8-30 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide) and very bristly the flower spikelets are surrounded by numerous bristles, one of which is larger than the others (i.e. 2-4 cm long).
What class is elephant grass?
What is elephant grass called in Nigeria?
Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum L. Schumach) commonly called ‘achara‘ by the Igbo speaking people of South Eastern Nigeria, belongs to the poaceae family and is native to Tropical Africa (Okaraonye and Ikewuchi, 2009).
What is the difference between Napier grass and elephant grass?
Elephant Grass, Napier Grass or Uganda Grass is a species native to the tropical grasslands of Africa. It has a very high productivity, both as a forage grass for livestock and as a biofuel crop. The name Elephant grass derives from it being a favourite food of elephants.
What is Napier grass good for?
Napier grass is planted in marginal lands and slopes to increase soil fertility and to reduce soil erosion. It is also the main source for paper production in mnay regions. Napier grass is also used in integrated pest management strategy as pull crop mainly in maize and sorghum producing areas.
Is Napier grass high in protein?
Nutritive value
It contains 8-12% crude protein and 26-28% crude fiber. The total digestible nutrient ranges from 55-58%.
Is Napier grass nutritious?
The fresh grass provided 1.8 percent of digestible crude protein and 14 percent of total digestible nutrients, or 8.5 and 65.7 percent respectively, on a moisture-free basis.
