Thin Napier Grass (Pennisetum polystachyon Schult.) A useful fodder for semi-dry tracts

In the South Arcot district where the summer heat often reaches 110° or 112° F., it is very difficult for any fodder grass to thrive during that part of the year. Consequently there is always a shortage of fodder in the tract during the summer months. The well. known fodder grasses viz., Guinea grass and Napier grass come up and yield well only under favourable conditions of water supply. These grasses are also not drought resistant. Therefore the need for a drought- resistant fodder grass which will be capable of yielding some fodder during summer was keenly felt. In 1940 a report appeared in Indian Farming (Vol. 1, No. 12, Dec. 1940) that a grass known by the name of Pennisetum purpureum and popularly called Thin Napier or Dry Napier grass was grown successfully in Mysore and that it proved to be a promising fodder grass for growing under rainfed conditions.