Recently did a simple test with Mombasa and this is to share the results.
We did the test planting only one seed in a one gallon plastic can that we use in our nursery for growing many different starter plants. I wanted to see what would be the result of planting only one seed. The one seed grew to be a bush creating numerous shoots. In other words, it reproduced in a manner very similar to vetiver.
The results of that test has saved us a lot of seed. Now when planting by hand, we deposit in the hole as few seeds as is possible…which we call “a 2 finger pinch” because it is as few as one can easily capture between a thumb and index finger. It is probably 3 to 5 seeds. We use the same planting technique as is used for planting corn or beans by hand… using a pointed stick to punch a hole in the ground and drop seeds in the hole.
We are very pleased with Mombasa. We find it to be highly productive and highly palatable and our protein tests have been typically in the 14% to 18% range. In most ways it is equally productive as King Grass because the stalk is very thin and the animals eat it without being chopped whereas the King Grass has a much larger stalk that the animals will only eat if chopped.
We cut it young, when it is about 1 meter tall. It normally obtains that height in 30 days. We do the same with King Grass while the stalk is tender so it does not need to be chopped before feeding to the animals. At least once a year we allow it to get a little taller and do a chop and drop as a green manure. A thick layer of green manure allows it to remain productive during our normal drought season.
King Grass can produce more biomass than mombassa when allowed to grow to the normal height of 2 to 3 meters as most people do in our area but at that size it has a high level of cellulose while the protein content drops significantly.
In addition to Mombasa, we grow four different varieties of hybrid King Grass. The proteins level of all of the varieties of mombassa and king grass vary greatly depending on rain. During the rainy season they all typically test in the 20% range but in the dry season they all typically test in the 10% range. However given that corn fodder, even in the rainy season, only tests at about 7%, I feel good about our choice of feed.
