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Graminae
Description
Perennial, 90-120 cm high with branching culms. Panicle of
five to many erect spikes on a rather short axis; glumes about half the
length of the spikelets, six to nine florets.
Distribution
Central-southern and north-east Africa. Plentiful in the Coast
and Eastern Provinces of Kenya (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Altitude range
Sea-level to 1 800 m.
Rainfall requirements
About 575 mm (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Drought tolerance
Excellent.
Soil requirements
Adapted to loose sandy loams, loams and alluvial soils (Bogdan
& Pratt, 1967), and red clays in Kenya.
Land preparation for establishment
Broadcast the seed on the surface and give a light cover if
possible.
Sowing time and rate
Sow in summer at 350 g/ha (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Number of seeds per kg.
3.3 million florets with one seed each (Bogdan & Pratt,
1967).
Main attributes
Its leafy early growth, drought resistance and high seed production.
Palatability
It is quite palatable.
Chemical analysis and
digestibility
In the leafier types, the content of crude protein at the early-flowering
stage can be as high as 18 percent and the crude fibre less than 30 percent
of the dry matter (Dougall & Bogdan, 1960). The ash level is 9.5 percent,
ether extract 1.7 percent, nitrogen-free extract 42.4 percent, calcium
0.6 percent and phosphorus 0.19 percent.
Natural habitat
Widespread in open thicket and grassland on sandy and clay
soils, often a weed.
Genetics and reproduction
2n=20 (Fedorov, 1974).
Seed production and harvesting
It is a very good seeder and seed can be collected easily by
hand stripping the panicles. Cutting with sickles may result in considerable
losses, as the seed sheds easily when mature. Seventy to 100 plants may
supply a kilogram of seed. The spikelets have several florets each, which
at maturity break off to make the seed (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Economics
It has not yet been tried in Kenya for reseeding the range,
but Bogdan and Pratt (1967) recommend its trial throughout the semi-arid
areas.
Further reading
Bogdan & Pratt, 1967.
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