How to Plant King Grass? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods

King grass is a hybrid of elephant grass and napier grass, and is also called bamboo grass, king grass, or sugarcane grass. It can be used to make feed, beverages, fuel, and pulp material, and can also be used for landscaping and various other purposes, making it extremely versatile. Its young shoots can also be eaten as a vegetable, so it can be said to be a relatively new type of high-efficiency economic crop. So how do you plant king grass? Below, the editor will briefly introduce some planting methods for king grass.

1. Site Selection and Land Preparation

The growth habits of king grass are that it likes high temperatures, tolerates low temperatures, likes fertilizer and water, is highly drought-resistant but not waterlogged. Therefore, the planting site is generally chosen in a sunny area with fertile soil, close to a water source, or in a section with loose soil and good drainage and irrigation conditions. For land preparation, the soil should be deeply plowed, weeds and stones in the field should be removed, then the soil clods should be broken up fine, and sufficient farmyard manure should be spread as base fertilizer, with cow dung being the best. Finally, trenches should be opened and beds made, and then you wait to sow.

2. Sowing and Raising Seedlings

King grass is generally planted by vegetative propagation, because its seeds have a very low germination rate, so stem nodes are generally used for planting. Before planting, the seedlings usually need to be raised for a period of time before transplanting. The seedling-raising time is generally any time from February to May each year, with the best time being around March. For the stem nodes, we should choose mature, healthy ones free of pests and diseases. Each node needs to have at least one bud point, and then the stem nodes should be disinfected, which can improve the survival rate. Finally, place the seed nodes diagonally into the soil, and water and fertilize in a timely manner; seedlings generally emerge in about seven to ten days.

3. Scientific Planting

Generally, about one month after raising seedlings, the seedlings can be transplanted and planted. At this time, the king grass seedlings have generally grown to about 20 to 25 cm, and the transplanting time is generally between March and June. The planting density needs to be analyzed specifically according to the purpose of planting king grass, and there are generally the following densities. They are 2,000 to 3,000 plants per mu, with a row spacing of 60 cm and a plant spacing of 30 to 50 cm; or 800 to 1,000 plants per mu, with a row spacing of 90 to 100 cm and a plant spacing of 70 to 80 cm.

4. Field Management

When planting, water the roots thoroughly and keep the soil moist. On cloudy and rainy days, watering is generally not needed, while on sunny days, watering is needed once every two to three days. You need to check the survival situation of the transplants in the field and replant in time to ensure the field is uniform. Because king grass grows relatively slowly, you need to carry out intertillage and weeding from time to time to promote plant growth. When watering, be sure to do it moderately; on sunny days the water demand is greater, so water about once every three days; on cloudy days, water moderately; on rainy days, drain promptly to avoid water accumulation in the field, which could drown the king grass. Finally, on the basis of applying sufficient base fertilizer, additional fertilization is also needed, especially during the tillering stage of king grass; in order to speed up tillering and increase the number of tillers, more fertilizer should be applied. Next, fertilize when king grass grows to about 60 cm, and finally fertilize before king grass enters winter. The fertilizer should mainly be nitrogen fertilizer or manure and urine water.

5. Pest and Disease Control

The resistance of king grass is still relatively good, but anthracnose and powdery mildew can still occur. We can use carbendazim or Bordeaux mixture for control, while strengthening field management. Next, the more common pests are cutworms, aphids, and stem borers, which can be killed with trichlorfon or dimethoate emulsion.

The above is the planting method for king grass compiled by the editor. I believe everyone has gained a general understanding after reading the above. At the same time, I hope it can help everyone. If you have other questions, you can also consult the editor.