Panicum maximum

Guinea grass, colonial grass, Tanganyika grass

Tall vigorous tufted perennial with stems up to 3.5 m tall that varies widely in growth habit. Grows in tropical and subtropical areas with 1 000-1 800 mm of rainfall on a wide range of soils. Tolerant of shade and fire, but not of waterlogging or severe drought. Produces high yields of palatable fodder and responds well to manuring, but rapidly declines in nutritive value with age. Dies if continually grazed close to the ground, and needs rest late in the growing season.

For the most nutritious grass it is best cut when it is 60-90 cm tall; but for higher yields it can be cut when it is up to 1.5 m tall, as it does not become coarse even if left to grow to that height. To maintain yields one third or one fourth of the plants should be replanted each year. Mixtures with a number of legumes (e.g., Centrosema pubescens and Stylosanthes guiauensia) have been successfully established.

Green panic or slender Guinea (P. maximum var. trichoglume Eyles) is a variety with fine stems up to 1.8 m high and short leaves.

							As % of dry matter
						DM	CP	CF	Ash	EE	NFE	Ref
Fresh, vegetative, 40 cm,
Tanzania						25.0	8.8	29.9	11.2	1.6	48.5	175
Fresh, vegetative, 80 cm,
Tanzania						25.0	8.8	32.8	12.9	1.5	44.0	"
Fresh, early bloom,
Tanzania						28.0	5.3	39.6	10.6	1.4	43.1	"
Fresh, cut at intervals of
1 week, Malaysia						22.0	20.5	24.1	11.4	0.9	43.1	292
Fresh, cut at intervals of
2 weeks, Malaysia						23.0	14.3	27.4	12.2	0.9	45.2	"
Fresh, cut at intervals of
3 weeks, Malaysia						23.0	12.6	28.7	13.0	0.9	44.8	"
Fresh, cut at intervals of
4 weeks, Malaysia						23.0	11.7	30.9	13.0	1.3	43.1	"
Fresh, cut at intervals of
5 weeks, Malaysia						24.5	10.2	30.6	13.9	0.8	44.5	"
Fresh, cut at intervals of
6 weeks, Malaysia						25.0	9.6	31.2	13.2	1.2	44.8	"
Fresh, mature, Nigeria						25.7	7.8	33.4	12.2	1.4	45.2	58
Hay, wet season, 6 weeks,
70 cm, Thailand						83.4	6.8	36.3	11.3	1.8	43.8	219
Hay, wet season, 8 weeks,
110 cm, Thailand						86.9	7.7	39.0	10.9	1.6	40.8	"
Hay, wet season, 10 weeks,
170 cm, Thailand						87.3	5.5	40.1	10.8	1.6	42.0	"
Hay, wet season, 12 weeks,
170 cm, Thailand						86.5	5.5	40.1	10.4	1.4	42.6	"
Hay, dry season, 6 weeks,
65 cm, Thailand						88.6	11.9	31.7	12.0	3.2	41.2	"
Hay, dry season, 8 weeks,
70 cm, Thailand						90.8	8.3	35.7	13.0	2.0	41.0	"
Hay, dry season, 10 weeks,
70 cm, Thailand						89.7	6.6	35.5	13.2	1.8	42.9	"
Hay, dry season, 12 weeks,
95 cm, Thailand						91.1	7.2	36.4	12.5	2.1	41.8	"
Silage, Tanzania						20.0	6.3	39.7	19.6	2.7	31.7	175
							Digestibility (%)
					Animal		CP	CF	EE	NFE	ME	Ref
Fresh, 40 cm					Sheep		64.8	71.6	31.3	67.0	2.23	175
Fresh, 80 cm					Sheep		43.2	73.5	13.3	59.8	2.00	"
Early bloom					Sheep		50.9	63.9	50.0	53.4	1.91	"
Mature					Cattle		60.3	53.0	42.9	65.0	1.95	58
Hay, 6 weeks					Sheep		62.0	58.0	61.0	57.0	1.93	219
Hay, 8 weeks					Sheep		49.0	56.0	53.0	49.0	1.74	"
Hay, 10 weeks					Sheep		36.0	58.0	47.0	54.0	1.80	"
Silage					Sheep		34.9	82.4	40.7	51.7	1.95	175
					Nylon bag degradability
						a	b	c		12hr	48hr	Ref
						(%)	(%)	(/hour)		(%)	(%)
Guinea grass, 6 weeks					DM						42.1	632
Guinea grass, 12 weeks					DM						43.3	"
	[P (rumen degradability at time t) = a+b*(1-exp(-c*t))]