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Scientific name:	Pennisetum americanum
Cultivars:	Many. Hercules, KF Prime 360, Wonderleaf, Tifleaf-1, Tifleaf-2, Tifleaf-3
Origin:	West Africa (Maurituania to Sudan)
Growth Habit:	Erect;7 to 8 feet (forage types), 3 to 5 ft tall (grain types), similar to Sorghum
Life Cycle:	Annual (warm season)
Use
Production:	Low yields, not competitive with corn or sorghum 3000 to 4500 lb/acre Used for pasture and hay, or grain. Commonly used as late season emergency hay crop in upper midwest
Nutritive Value:	Excellent, comparable to corn High CP (~45% higher than corn; especially under N fertilization), TDN in the 50% range Lower in tannin than sorghum
Herbaria Image:	Click this link
Identification
Seed Head:	Raceme (resembles 'cat tail'); Flowers July-September
Seed:	Half the weight of sorghum seed (3-4mm) Can be white, pale grey, pale blue, purple, yellow or brown.
Shoot:	0.4 to 0.75" in diameter, round
Leaf:	Long, 5 to 40 inch long x 2.75 to 27 in (wide) Vary from yellow green to purple
Auricles:	Not present
Ligule:	Present, heavy ciliated (hairs)
Adaptation
Soil:	Tolerates leached, sandy or low organic matter soils
pH:	> 5.5
Moisture:	Most drought tolerant of tropical cereal crops
Temperature:	Soil Temps. of 65 to 70°F for germination sensitive to frost
Other:	Use for grazing, hay or silage
Establishment - Management
Seeding rate:	12-15lbs/acre drilled, 30-40lbs/acre broadcast If grazing, use lighter seed rates. If cutting for hay, use heavier seed rates.
Seed cost:	$1.5 to 2/lb; $24-30/acre (drilled), $60-80/acre (broadcast)
Planting date:	Mid June to mid July
Planting depth:	1/2 to 1 inch Easy to establish
Frost seeding:	No
Fertilization:	Responds to fertility but no high nutrient demand Typically limited by nitrogen N needs 40 to 80 lb/acre Excess N may result in lodging, best applied as manure. P and K should be applied per soil test results. Drill row application may cause injury to seedlings.
Grazing:	Plants should be allowed to grow 20"-24" before grazing, leaving 9"-12" of stubble for maintenance of stand.
Hay:	Plants should be cut at a height of 24"-36" for hay-overly mature plants beyond this height (past the boot stage) will not provide high quality hay.
Notes
Does not have potential for prussic acid but can have high nitrate levels. Grown for birdseed European core borer If grown for grain, store at 12-13% moisture Recommended for horses and cattle