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.
It is a tall slender plant with long slender leaves with very thin stems. Grows to about 2 meters in height. The “bush” gets to be about 12" diameter. at the base. Easy to plant with seeds. If short of seeds, divide a plant. Propagates rapidly.
One additional note. Apparently “Mombassa” is a trademark protected name or something like that because in Honduras, when buying Mombassa seed, one receives “Mombaca” seed. Seems to be same plant with with a slightly different name.
I am in Honduras and every feed store here carries the seed. I also see it available on the Internet; so it’s probably available in your area but if it’s not available, let me know and I will see what I can do. By the way it’s a hybrid that produces sterile seed. So you need to either buy seeds or get a plant from someone and divide the plant and it will propagate very quickly. Good luck.
Martin, this is the name I am familiar with. Megathyrus maximus cv. Mombasa
But there are no doubt many varieties. In fact we have 5 different varieties at our farm school.
The description given of Panicum maximum at the site you listed says it puts out rhizomes whereas Mombasa does not. At least one bush of Mombasa will not create a second bush. The initial bush will grow to about 1 foot in diameter but that is the extent of its “spreading”. Could be that hybrid Mombasa is based on panicum maximum.
That’s really interesting. Using just a few seeds instead of a handful and still ending up with a productive clump is a great way to save seed over time. I also like the idea of cutting it at around 1 meter instead of waiting for maximum height. It makes sense that you’d get better quality forage that way, even if the total biomass is a bit lower and need to say that one identify here app helped me to understand what is it. Have you noticed any difference in regrowth speed between Mombasa and the different King Grass hybrids after repeated cutting?
I can only speak generally because there are many different varieties of King Grass. We have five different hybrid varieties. There might be hundreds available.
Both King Grass and Mombasa regrow incredibly fast. Obviously there are many factors including soil moisture, soil fertility, temperature, etc. but where we are, they both regrow at approximately an inch a day. They both make that growth rate consistently even after many years. Some friends have Mombasa that is 25 years old and still a very consistent producer.
There’s one way they differ. Although we don’t allow Mombasa to go above 2 meters and stay there very long, some of my friends do. Ditto with King Grass. One difference I noticed is King Grass tends to shade itself out. In other words, after a season of staying at full height, roughly 50% of the plant population will be lost. That doesn’t seem to happen with Mombassa or if it does, it is to a much lesser extent.
One final note. We take good care of our tall grasses. That includes doing a chop and drop at least once a year. By allowing it to get about 2 meters tall and then cutting it and letting it fall to the ground, that supplies a huge amount of “mulch”. That adds much fertility to the soil. We also apply manure twice a year. So over the years, our soil is improving and so it’s not surprising that our tall grasses do so well years later.
However, we have neighbors who never do anything to benefit their Mombasa and yet it keeps producing year after year. I’m sure it’s not as nutritious as ours nor as productive but at least it doesn’t die out. Mombasa seems to be able to withstand a huge amount of abuse and neglect. That’s my kind of plant!!!
