By Dr Jolly Kabirizi
Napier grass can be intercropped with one or more forage legume species.
Examples of forage legumes that are commonly intercropped with Napier grass are; Silver leaf desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum), Greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium Intortum), Stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis) Centro (Centrosema pubescens) and Siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum).
Major benefits from intercropping Napier grass with forage legumes:
•A mixture of Napier grass and forage legumes improves the nutritional quality of Napier grass. Forage legumes have a higher protein content than grasses and also have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through their symbiotic association with rhizobia.
•The mixture has the potential to produce higher total dry matter yields, suppress weeds and improve soil fertility.
•Integration of forage legumes into a Napier grass fodder system provides an effective means of improving dairy productivity.
