Pennisetum polystachyon

Kyasuwa grass, China grass, thin Napier grass

An annual or a perennial with stems up to 2 m tall that grows in areas with long dry seasons and 600-900 mm of rain. Resistant to drought and waterlogging. Valuable as a short-season leafy pasture or hay crop. High herbage yields. Can be introduced to supplant coarse, less nutritive grasses that form the natural vegetation in high-rainfall areas with acidic soils.

							As % of dry matter
						DM	CP	CF	Ash	EE	NFE	Ref
Fresh, early bloom, Kenya							17.6	27.1	11.9	2.7	40.7	133
Fresh, first cutting, India							17.4	23.0	16.0	1.4	42.2	436
Fresh, second cutting, India							12.3	31.4	10.4	1.7	44.2	"