Napier grass, also known as elephant grass, is a productive and versatile forage grass native to Africa and southeast Asia.
- Due to its high yield, it is widely used as feed for livestock and in bioenergy applications.
- While it may be a relatively new energy crop in India, Thai farmers have been cultivating it for over 30 years, with more than 130 varieties.
- This fast-growing perennial grass can reach a height of 10-15 feet and can be harvested 5-6 times annually.
- The first harvest occurs four months after planting, followed by subsequent harvests every two months for up to seven years.
- Napier grass is categorised as lignocellulosic biomass, with its carbohydrate composition typically consisting of 35-39 per cent cellulose, 19-23 per cent xylan and 15-19 per cent lignin on a dry mass basis.
- With an energy output-to-input ratio of approximately 25:1, it emerges as one of the most promising energy crops for the creation of cost-effective and efficient bioenergy systems.
- In India, the reported annual production yield of Napier grass ranges from 150-200 tonnes per acre per year.
