Grassland Establishment of Dwarf Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) by Planting of Cuttings in the Winter Season

• Main Authors: Satoru Fukagawa, Yasuyuki Ishii
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-01-01
• Series: Agronomy
• Subjects: dwarf Napiergrass; nursery production; underground storage; winter season
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/8/2/12

We investigated a new method for the establishment of dwarf Napiergrass by covering stem cuttings with soil in the winter season analogously to summer establishment in sugarcane. Three experiments were conducted, including measuring the labor involved in plant establishment, and an extension study was applied to livestock producers’ fields in two locations. Using this technique, we obtained an emerged plant density of over two plants/m2. Moreover, this proved a simple and labor-saving method compared with manual or mechanical transplanting. Sowing of Italian ryegrass at the same time as covering cuttings of dwarf Napiergrass with soil could control spring weed growth without disturbing the emergence of dwarf Napiergrass, suggesting the feasibility of a double-cropping forage production system in the region.