Super Napier Cultivation Practices- Dr. P. C. Patel

Hybrid Napier Grass:
There are many hybrids of Napier Grass in India but Bajra Napier hybrids Super, APBN-1, CO3, and CO5 were high yielding and recommended to plant with a spacing of 50 X 50 cm or 100 cm X 100 cm in the fertile part of the land. Guinea grass was recommended for moderately fertile land under tree plantation as it tolerates shed conditions.
The Hybrid Napier first cutting will be taken after 50-60 days of planting and the subsequent cuttings at 45-50 days intervals. It contains more oxalic acid content in an earlier stage so never take cutting earlier (at 25-30 days intervals) otherwise health problems in cattle. The green forage yield is 250 to 300 tons per hectare in 6 to 7 cuttings in one year and after that 2 and 3 years, the green forage yield is 200 to 250 tons/ha/year.
What is the Special of Super Napier Grass?
• Fast Growth: It has fastest growth of 10 feet in 59 days
• High Yield: 12.5 tons per acre and 8 harvests per year. In other words, 200 tons per acre, which can feed 20 dairy cows for 12 months.
• Best Nutrition: The presence of 16-18 % protein is very important for animals particularly for dairy cows to produce more milk.
• All Weather Friendly Growth: It is drought resistant and can grow in any kind of location irrespective of wet or dry season. The only need is the soil rich in organic matter which makes it perfectly suitable for the Indian subcontinent.
• Easy Storage: This has water-soluble carbonate 18, which means no need to add additives to store this plant(silage).
Thailand-“King of Napier”

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Sir what is RDF and FYM