Mombasa Guinea

It was introduced into Brazil from Tanzania in 1993, from near Korogwe, Tanzania. Large tussocks to 2 m, stems tinged with purple. Leaves are long, to 3 cm wide, with short hairs on the upper surface; leaf sheaths are glabrous. Good drought and cold tolerance. Dry matter yield 28%-40% more than that of Tanzania guinea grass.

Productivity

Mombasa guinea grass is a tall grass, similar to hybrid Napier grass in habit, but far more leafy and is very suitable for cut-and-carry. It is a very productive leafy grass, producing between 15-20 t/ha dry matter per year on poor soils in Thailand. Does not tolerate waterlogging and has average drought and cold tolerance. Dry matter yields 28%-40% more than that of Tanzania guinea grass.

Establishment

Sow the seed at the beginning of the wet season when there is good rain. If the seed is sown in the dry season, irrigation will have to be used.

1. Cultivate the soil well. Plough, disc and harrow. Remove all weeds.
2. Disc the soil into a fine seed bed before sowing the seed at 8-10 kg/ha.
3. Broadcast the seed over the soil and then cover the seed with only 1-2 cm of soil. Cover by raking or brushing with large brooms or tree branches, or by gently rolling over the seeds with a light roller to press the seeds into the soil.
4. If there is no rain, irrigate as soon as possible after sowing.

Crude Protein Levels

8-12% crude protein in Thailand on poor soils and 12-14% crude protein on better soils.

Animal Production

No data from Thailand, but in South America, live-weight gains of 770 kg/ha/yr compared with 600, and 590 kg/ha/yr from Tanzania guinea grass and Tobiata guinea grass have been reached. It is more productive than Tanzania guinea grass producing between 20-30% more dry matter in trials in Thailand.

Management

Fertilizer

Apply 200 kg/ha of NPK fertilizer (15:15:15) at seed sowing and then after every forage cut or grazing.

Cutting

1. First cut is at 60-80 days after planting or when the plants are between knee and waist height (60-80 cm high). Cut down to about 10-15 cm or at ankle height.
2. After the first cut, cut thereafter every 40-45 days in the wet season or when the plants reach between 60-80 cm in height. If the grass is too tall (over 80 cm high) it is low in quality (low crude protein and high fibre).
3. In the dry season, cut when the plants reach between 50-70 cm in height or about every 60-70 days if there is no irrigation.

Seed

Seed produced in Thailand is harvested by hand and has a purity of over 99%. It is pure-to type with no other guinea grass seeds in Mombasa seed from Thailand.