GUINEA GRASS

(Panicum maximum)

Guinea grass is native of tropical Africa. This is the oldest grass introduced in India. The
grass is tall, densely tufted perennial with numerous shoots arising from short, rhizomes. In
India it is grown in almost all the states except the north-east region. In Odisha it is grown in
both central and costal areas. It is a shade loving plant.
Climate: This crop grows well in sandy and loam soils. Hot (15-38°C) and humid climate is
suitable for this crop. It does not grow well in clayey soil and under water lodged conditions.
Land Preparation: The grass can be grown on almost all types of soils with good drainage.
It grows well on fertile, medium loam soil. 2-3 ploughing followed by planking is essential
for good crop. Spacing : 50×30 cm or 90×45 cm.

Improved varieties:
Area of cultivation Varieties
Kerala (rainfed) Macuenni
South, North, North-West and Central India Hamil
Hill, North-West and Central India PGG-1 and PGG-9
Hill and Central India PGG-13 and PGG-14
Punjab PGG-19 and PGG-101
Tamil Nadu Guinea grass Co 1 and Guinea grass Co 2

Sowing time: As rain fed crop, the best time of sowing is 2nd fortnight of June to end of July.
However with irrigation facility it can be shown at any time throughout the year except the
cold months.
Seed rate: 5.0 kg/ ha
Sowing method: Root slips of guinea grass can also be used for establishing the fodder crop.
30 to 40 thousand root slips are required for one ha with a spacing of 60x40cm.
Manures and fertilizers: Apply 10 tonnes FYM/ ha at the time of final land preparation.
This crop requires (per ha) 53 kg urea, 87 kg DAP and 67kg MOP (NPK:40:40:40) after
each cut and a basal dose of NPK:40:50:50.
Irrigation: The grass should be planted in well moist soil condition. The crop needs regular
irrigation at an interval of 15-18 days in March to May, at 10-12 days interval in summer
months.
Harvesting: The crop is harvested at 50% flowering stage. In multi cut variety, 1st cut is
taken 60 days after showing and subsequent cuts are taken at 45 days interval. About 5-7 cuts
can be done in a year.
Yield: An average green fodder yield of 400 quintals/ha in single cut variety and in multicut
variety, it may go up to 800 quintals per hectare.
Intercropping: This crop grows very well in silvipastural system with Albizzia, Leucaena.
Stylo is grown as intercrop with this crop to improve fertility and fodder quality.

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Prepared by: Anil Kumar, B. Sahoo, A.K. Panda, Tanuja, S., Shivaji, D.A., P. Samal, S.K. Nayak and D.N. Sadangi
ICAR - Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar – 751 003, Odisha
.