Presentation on

Emperor Grass

by

Prof. Dr. G. Kumaravelu

(Dec 2012)

5 MONTHS OLD Napier Bajra hybrid Co4

Emperor Grass

(Cumbu Napier Hybrid)

=

Napier – Elephant grass of Africa

x

Kambu (Bajra) India

Triploid Sterile Hybrid – F1

F2 – (Non viable)

Therefore, propagation only through sibs (cuttings)

From 1954, every year,

repeatedly the crossing is made

and progeny evaluated.

NBCO4 – Evolved by TNAU

during 2008

5 MONTHS OLD CROP

HARVESTING OF 5 MONTHS OLD CROP

HARVESTING OF 5 MONTHS OLD CROP

28 / 09 / 2011 Weighment of 5 months old crop tested by the author Dr. GK (28 / 09 / 2011)

Highest Yield

400 to 800 MT / ha / year (green) Data recorded by Dr. GK. on 28 / 09 / 2011

5 months old crop

640 MT / ha (green)

Sample No. No. of Culms Stem Wt in Kg Leaf Wt in Kg Total Biomass

in Kg

1 19 14.20 3.50 17.50

2 19 14.00 3.00 17.00

3 17 12.50 3.00 15.00

Average 18 13.50 3.15 16.65

TOTAL BIOMASS PER HA – 640 GREEN MT

(5 to 6 months first ratoon crop)

5 MONTHS OLD SECOND RATOON CROP

2nd Ratoon crop weight

After 5 months (22 / 02 / 2012)

1160 MT / ha (green)

TOTAL BIOMASS

First Ratoon Crop – 640 green MT / ha (80% moisture)

Second Ratoon Crop – 770 green MT / ha (80% moisture)

(This data is collected from minimum size sample plots of less than 20 cents

only. Therefore this should be taken only as an indicator of high yielding

nature of this hybrid grass. It is suggested that a field sample trial maybe

carried out by the users for one harvest upto 5 to 6 months to evaluate its

yield potential for that particular soil and management status.

Average Sugarcane yield in Tamilnadu – 40 Ton / acre

27% is the weight of the bagasse (50% moisture)

The yield of bagasse is about 11 tons per acre

Highest yield in sugarcane is 100 Tons / acre

Even in this the yield of bagasse will be 27 Tons / acre

On an average, safely, we may presume its potential as following

Emperor Grass can yield a minimum of 160 Green Tons / acre / year

@ 50% moisture it yields 80 Tons / acre / year

Emperor Grass can yield a maximum of 250 Green Tons / acre / year

@ 50% moisture it yields 125 Tons / acre / year

Applications of Emperor Grass

• Electric power production

• Briquettes for substitution of coal, lignite in Thermal Power Plants

and Industrial, Commercial heating systems

• Biogas production

• Cellulosic Ethanol / Butanol

• Probably paper pulp

• Bio chemicals and Bio plastics

• Bio oil / Biodiesel

Gross Calorific Value

4038 Kcal / kg

Direct Combustion

in Biomass Power Plant

• Similar to bagasse used in Sugar

Mills to produce electricity under co-

generation mode, the biomass from

this grass can also be used.

• We have tested it to have similar

calorific value like bagasse.

DRYING OF EMPEROR GRASS

MEASURING THE LENGTH OF EMPEROR GRASS

BRIQUETTING OF EMPEROR GRASS IN PROGRESS

EMPEROR GRASS BRIQUETTES – GROSS CALORIFIC VALUE 4284 Kcal

Gross Calorific Value

Briquettes

4284 Kcal / kg

MAINLY USED AS FODDER FOR MILCHING COWS

Cows like it because of its sweetness. Note the houseflies on the fresh cut

stems indicating more sweetness (sugars).

ONE ACRE DEMO PLOT AT CHENNAMPATTI, ERODE (22 DAYS OLD)

ONE ACRE DEMO PLOT AT CHENNAMPATTI, ERODE (22 DAYS OLD)

ONE ACRE DEMO PLOT AT CHENNAMPATTI, ERODE (2 MONTHS OLD)

ONE ACRE DEMO PLOT AT CHENNAMPATTI, ERODE (2 MONTHS OLD)

ONE ACRE DEMO PLOT AT CHENNAMPATTI, ERODE (4.5 MONTHS OLD)

ONE ACRE DEMO PLOT AT CHENNAMPATTI, ERODE (4.5 MONTHS OLD)

HARVESTING IN PROGRESS USING BRUSH CUTTER

CUTTINGS LOADED FOR PLANTING IN ANOTHER LOCATION

ONE MONTH OLD SECOND RATOON CROP

ONE MONTH OLD SECOND RATOON CROP

NEW VARIETY (PINK COLOR) NB GRASS – 3 MONTHS OLD

NEW VARIETY (PINK COLOR) NB GRASS – 3 MONTHS OLD

NEW VARIETY (PINK COLOR) NB GRASS – 3 MONTHS OLD