A tall, fast-growing perennial grass (Cenchrus purpureus, also classified as Pennisetum purpureum) native to sub-Saharan Africa, cultivated widely across the tropics as a high-yielding fodder crop for cattle and other livestock, particularly in cut-and-carry systems where the grass is harvested and brought to penned animals rather than grazed directly. Also known as elephant grass, it can grow several meters tall within a single season and is a central forage crop in East African dairy farming systems, where it underpins many smallholder zero-grazing operations. The grass has also drawn interest beyond livestock feed as a potential biomass crop for bioenergy production, given its rapid growth and high fiber yield per unit of land.
Facts
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Napier grass (Wikipedia)
- lead: species of perennial tropical grass
- lead: used primarily for grazing
View the Source2. Wikipedia: Cenchrus purpureus
Wikipedialead description or Wikipedia lead (primary-uses)
A tall, fast-growing perennial grass (Cenchrus purpureus, also classified as Pennisetum purpureum) native to sub-Saharan Africa, cultivated widely across the tropics as a high-yielding fodder crop for cattle and other livestock, particularly in cut-and-carry systems where the grass is harvested and brought to penned animals rather than grazed directly.
Lead
Cenchrus purpureus, synonym Pennisetum purpureum, also known as Napier grass, elephant grass or Uganda grass, is a species of perennial tropical grass native to African grasslands.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.