The pennisetum purpureum, also known as elephant grass, is a tropical grass native to Africa.It is popular as a feed crop for livestock, and is also useful for attracting pests away from important food crops, such as maize.It is sometimes used as an ornamental plant in the US.The grass can be grown from root slips.Make sure your grass gets plenty of water after it's planted.
Step 1: Cut the stem of the grass.
If the grass doesn't grow in your area, you may be able to buy it from a plant nursery.The stem must be cut above the soil.There are small bumps on stems that will eventually grow into new leaves.
Step 2: The stem should be cut into sections.
The length of the stem is important.These are small green bumps on the stem.The section you cut should have at least three nodes on it.Each cut should be made at a roughly 45 angle.The top part of the stem can be used as livestock feed or compost.
Step 3: A series of holes are dug approximately 75 cm apart.
The holes should be deep enough to allow for two of the three nodes on your cuttings to be underneath the soil when you plant them.If you want to plant multiple rows of grass, the space between each row should be equal to or slightly greater than that between the plants.
Step 4: The holes should be fertilized.
Fertilizing each hole before planting is a must.You can use triple superphosphate, a few handfuls of farmyard manure, or afertilizer with a 20-20-0 NPK ratio.The NPK ratio tells you how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is in thefertilizer.A 20-20-0 has 20% nitrogen, 20% phosphorus, and no potassium.
Step 5: Put the canes in the holes and fill them with soil.
Attach a cane to each hole at a 30 angle.If you fill the hole with soil, make sure that two of the leaf nodes are below the soil.
Step 6: Remove the entire stem of the grass.
The stem should be cut at the ground level.Remove the green parts of the plant and leave the rest under the soil.The stem and leaves can be used for compost or animal feed.
Step 7: Shoot the roots.
dig under the soil and get a bundle of roots and shoots after you've cut off the stem.The clump of roots should be separated intoslips, consisting of a living root with one or more grass shoots emerging from it.
Step 8: The roots should be trimmed.
Remove the slips and trim the roots on them to about 2 inches long.If you want, you can treat the slips with a rooting hormone solution.
Step 9: The root can be planted in small holes.
You can dig a row of shallow holes.While the shoot is left above the ground, each hole should be deep enough to submerge the root.After planting the root slips, fill the holes with soil.
Step 10: It's a good idea to weed your grass.
If you are growing the grass as feed for livestock, you need to weed it frequently.Before harvesting the grass, weed the crop for the first time three weeks after planting.After about eight weeks of growth, the grass is ready for harvest.
Step 11: You shouldfertilize your grass.
There is a lot of grass.Liquid manure can be poured into the trenches between the rows of grass.Alternatively, apply a top-dressing of NPK 20-20-0 to the soil around the plants.
Step 12: Make sure your grass has enough water.
The grass grows best in areas that get a lot of rain.You may need to water your grass occasionally if you don't get a lot of rain.It is important not to let the grass get wet.It's important to plant in an area with good soil drainage.