Talk:Pennisetum purpureum

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[edit] Such a bore

Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher, in testimony to Agriculture and Forestry Committee of Senate of Canada, 5 December 2006, said:

"Napier grass — that they can grow outside the borders of the corn, which actually attracts the corn borer. The corn borer likes the smell better than the corn, but it traps it; it has a sticky liquid. At the same time, they found another plant — a Desmodium plant — that can be grown between the corn. It is a very small nitrogen-fixing plant that has a smell that repels the corn borer. At the same time, the Striga weed also does not like it."

Can somebody who knows more about it than me clarify if she meant Striga doesn't like Napier grass or Desmodium? Trekphiler 08:12, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Striga

Pennisetum purpureum is used as trap plant in push-pull technology to fight stem borers in eastern Africa. The Desmodium is used as a repellant within the maize or sorgum field. Italso supresses Striga, a parsitic weed, that causes even bigger crop losses than the stemborer. There is entry under "push-pull technology" about that. Its not verry good jet, but I'm planning to improove it.

[edit] Picture

I doubt that the Grass shown in the picture is Pennisetum purpureum. I can clearly see that the Grass is Flowering, but Napier grass only flowers in very dry condition. If Ok I will upload a Picture of what I'm sure that it is Napier Grass.

Moskitofarmer 08:47, 10 July 2007 (UTC)