Chrysopogon orientalis (Desv.) A. Camus
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Chrysopogon orientalis (Desv.) A. Camus
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Gramineae
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Author: L.’t Mannetje |
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Philippines: tinloy (Tagalog), rukut dukut (Visaya), salsapot (Ilokano). Laos: hnha:z khwa:k. Thailand: ya-phungchu. Origin and geographic distribution C. orientalis originates from and is distributed in coastal areas of the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indo-China and India. Perennial with culms up to 80 cm tall, creeping and branching or sometimes densely tufted, with short stout stolons. Leaf-sheaths and internodes distinct below, tight and more overlapping above; leaf-blades at the base of the plant and on the stem, linear-acuminate to oblong, 6-10(-30) cm x 3-4 mm, flat or folded, usually glabrous. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, 10-18 cm long, with whorls of slender branches, each branch with a terminal tuft of red-brown persistent hairs at the base of a group of 3 spikelets (1 sessile, 2 pedicelled); sessile spikelet bisexual, with an oblique slender golden-hairy basal callus 2.5 mm long below the base of the lower glume, glumes spinulose-hairy, upper glume with awn up to 1-5 cm long, upper lemma with awn to 6 cm long; pedicelled spikelets with lower glume awned to 1.5 cm, upper glume and upper lemma awnless. When fully mature the panicles take on a golden colour (Manidool 1992). Use C. orientalis is used as green forage under grazing. It also protects sandy coastal areas from wind erosion Properties Nitrogen concentrations in leaves from flowering plants of C. orientalis range from 0.5-0.7%. The leaf/stem ratio is low and this stemmy condition persists almost throughout the year. A DM digestibility of 46% has been measured for flowering plants (Manidool 1989). Toxicity None reported Ecology C. orientalis is adapted to warm, high rainfall climates. It grows best on open fields, but can tolerate light shade and can invade old coconut plantations. Soil requirements It is well adapted to extremely infertile soils on sandy coastal land, but also grows vigorously on heavy soils in central Thailand. C. orientalis responds well to higher fertility and appropriate rates of complete fertilizer can be used. Propagation and planting C. orientalis can be planted vegetatively or sown at 10-12 kg/ha. A spacing of 50 cm x 80 cm is recommended for vegetative planting, using 3 rooted tillers per planting hill. Growth and development Seed germinates within 5 days after sowing. First flowering starts about 11 weeks after germination, and seed reaches maturity at 13 weeks after sowing. Performance It is palatable and tolerates heavy grazing and fire; frequent grazing and/or burning of old swards is recommended to keep the plants in a leafy condition. It can be cut and fed to animals, but grazing is more appropriate since the leaves are normally concentrated at the base of the plant and are too low to be cut by large mowers. Annual DM yields of 5-8 t/ha are obtained in Thailand. It may be conserved as hay but it is then too coarse with little leaf. It is not suitable for silage making. The species has many advantages, such as its tolerance of heavy grazing and light shade and its good seed production. It has particular potential where cattle graze under old coconut plantations or sandy soils, such as occur in southern Thailand (Manidool 1992). Link
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