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Alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica)

Datasheet

Description
Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
Common names 

Alang-alang, blady grass, cogon, cogongrass, kunai grass, cotton wool grass, imperata, japanese blood grass, speargrass, red baron [English]; herbe à paillotte, impérate cylindrique, paille de dys [French]; cisca [Spanish]; caniço-branco, caminhadora, sapé [Portuguese]; Japans bloedgras [Dutch]; Silberhaargras [German]; alang-alang, ilalang [Indonesian]; lalang [Malay]; mtimbi [Swahili]; kugon [Tagalog]; Cỏ tranh [Vietnamese]; 白茅 [Chinese]; チガヤ [Japanese]; หญ้าคา [Thai]

Synonyms 

Imperata arundinacea Cirillo, Imperata cylindrica subsp. koenigii (Retz.) Masam. & Yanagita, Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii (Retz.) Perkins, Imperata cylindrica var. major (Nees) C. E. Hubb., Imperata koenigii (Retz.) P. Beauv., Imperata koenigii var. major Nees, Lagurus cylindricus L., Saccharum koenigii Retz.

Related feed(s) 
Description 

Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv., known as speargrass in Nigeria, alang-alang in Asia, and cogongrass in America (Labrada, 2003), is a perennial rhizomatous grass, up to 1.2 m high. It has tough, branched and rhizomatous roots that explore soil layers down to 60 cm. Its stems are slender and originate from the upper rhizomes. Leaves are narrow, rigid, blade-shaped, up to 1 m long, 3-10 mm broad, bearded at the base and glabrous in their upper part. Flowers are borne in a 60 cm-long cylindrical, silky and spike-like panicle. The spikelets are surrounded by 10-15 mm long hairs that cause the silky aspect (Ecoport, 2010).

Imperata cylindrica is mostly used in pasture for ruminants. The hay is used for thatch rather than for fodder (FAO, 2010).

Distribution 

Imperata cylindrica is native to and widespread within most tropical areas of the world. It was naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, Central and South America but also in southern states of the USA, West Indies, Cape Verde, Madagascar, Melanesia and Polynesia (USDA, 2010). It grows well between 45°N and 45°S and from sea level up to 2000 m in the Himalayas, in sub-humid or humid grasslands or open woodlands. It occurs generally in damp conditions adjacent to swampy areas and drainage lines. Optimal growth conditions are 25°C-35°C day temperatures, 250-6250 mm annual rainfall, full sun or light shade on light sandy soils of pH ranging from 4 to 7.5. It is tolerant of long drought periods and can bear burning since its rhizome allows rapid regrowth. Imperata cylindrica cannot withstand flooding (which is a way of controlling it) and low temperatures (growth is stopped below 20°C) (Ecoport, 2010; FAO, 2010; Ecocrop, 2010; Jonathan et al., 1999).

Forage management 

Imperata cylindrica is used as pasture when young, at 15-25 cm high. It does not bear heavy grazing (FAO, 2010). In any case, it has to be grazed at low stocking rates as heavy grazing encourages weed invasion (Falvey, 1977).

While Imperata cylindrica is usually grazed, it has been proposed to pelletize it for cattle (Pomplona, 1974).

Environmental impact 

Imperata cylindrica is a component of native pastures and its grasslands cover more than 200 million ha in Asia. It is considered as a major noxious weed in more than 70 countries, and invades 35 different crops including rice, cotton, coffee, tea, oil palm, coconut and rubber plantations (GISD, 2010). It is difficult to control. Chemical methods are generally used (Gbehounou et al., 2000), but more sustainable practices are being investigated such as mechanical control (Gbehounou et al., 2000), shade-based control (Macdicken et al., 1996), flooding (FAO, 2010) and heavy grazing (Ecocrop, 2010 (FAO, 2010). Imperata cylindrica is fire-resistant due to its persistent underground rhizomes and its current dominance in certain areas is thought to have been caused by slash-and-burn agriculture (Falvey, 1981). It competes very successfully with other species. Calopo (Calopogonium mucunoides), Stylosanthes guianensis and velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) may reduce its invasiveness but some constraints of Mucuna cultivation limit its efficiency (Gbehounou et al., 2000; Friday et al., 1999; Sajise et al., 1975).

Imperata cylindrica may be useful for soil erosion control due to the fast growth of its rhizomes. It may also have some potential in silvi-pastoralist systems as it can grow in a relatively low light. For example it is a suitable grass in coconut plantations (Senanayake, 1995). 

Nutritional aspects
Nutritional attributes 

Imperata cylindrica is a poor quality grass. Its protein content is about 7% DM and generally lower than 12% DM (Feedipedia, 2013). It is also deficient in energy and sodium (Falvey, 1981).

Potential constraints 

Cattle tend to avoid mature leaves due to their sharp tips and edges that cause mouth irritation (Soerjani, 1970).

Ruminants 

Though Imperata cylindrica pastures may be used profitably in some situations, they must be supplemented with other pasture species and feeds to obtain acceptable animal performance (Falvey, 1981; Holmes et al., 1980). In the Thai Highlands, Imperata cylindrica provides some forage but tends to decline or disappear if continually grazed by cattle (Andrews, 1983).

Nutritive value

It has been estimated that the low protein content of Imperata cylindrica forage can support live weight gain in beef cattle only for the first 6 weeks of forage growth (Papua New Guinea) or 20 weeks (Thai Highlands) (Falvey, 1981). Nylon bag digestibility of Imperata cylindrica was found to be 2/3 lower than that of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Setaria sphacelata and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (Holmes et al., 1980). In the Thai Highlands, in vitro digestibility declined with plant age, from 70% when young to 40% at 150 days, and depended on the season: 50-70% for wet season regrowth and lower than 45% in the dry season (Falvey, 1981).

Palatability

Imperata cylindrica is palatable if cut frequently but the mature leaves are sharp and irritating (see Potential constraints above) (Soerjani, 1970).

Beef cattle

Imperata cylindrica pastures can support a viable extensive cattle production system provided that they are supplemented with sources of energy (carbohydrates such as cassava), nitrogen (urea or legumes), and minerals (Falvey, 1981; Holmes et al., 1980; Soewardi et al., 1974). Weight gains of cattle grazing non-supplemented Imperata cylindrica were reported to be lower than those obtained with supplemented Imperata cylindrica pasture, or with other pasture species at higher stocking rates.

Using urea-molasses-mineral blocks and introducing new fodder species (especially legumes) significantly improved production from Imperata cylindrica grasslands in smallholder farming systems. Fodder species for fallow improvement, modified alley cropping or hedgerow systems and plantations integrating livestock production may help to increase sustainability (Calub et al., 1996).

The following table presents several trials involving Imperata cylindrica pastures.

Animal Region Average daily gain and stocking rate for Imperata cylindrica Average daily gain and stocking rate for other forage species or supplemented Imperata cylindrica Reference
Heifers Papua New Guinea 0.2-0.25 kg/day, 0.8-1.6 animal/ha 0.45 kg/day, 1.7-2.2 animals/ha on Guinea grass and legume pastures Holmes et al., 1980
Steers Papua New Guinea 0.38 kg/day 0.47-0.52-0.63 kg/day when supplemented with palm kernel meal alone, with molasses or with molasses and urea
0.53-0.56-0.54 kg/day when supplemented with palm kernel meal alone, with molasses or with molasses and urea
Galgal et al., 2000
Cattle Philippines 0.27 kg/day, 1 animal/ha >0.81 kg/day, 2 animal/ha on Brachiaria mutica/centro pasture Magadan et al., 1974
Cattle Thai Highlands 0.04 kg/day +30% with sodium supplementation Falvey, 1981
Cattle Thai Highlands 0.04 kg/day 0.21 kg/day with legume supplementation, 0.24 kg/day with urea-molasses and mineral block Mikled, 1976
Cattle Indonesia 0.17 kg/day 0.21 kg/day with urea, carbohydrate and mineral supplementation Soewardi et al., 1974

Sheep and goats

Supplementing Imperata cylindrica with legumes is a valuable strategy in small ruminants. Dry matter intakes of 2.8 and 3.3 % LW (for goats and sheep respectively) were obtained using alang-alang grass (ad libitum) and Leucaena leucocephala (300 g). These values were higher than those obtained for I. cylindrica or Leucaena alone. Diet digestibility of the low-quality herbage was higher for goats than for sheep (Komolong et al., 1988).

Pigs 

Early researchers noted that the succulent white and starchy rhizomes of Imperata cylindrica were eaten and even actively searched for by pigs (Hole, 1911). However, later attempts to fatten pigs on the rhizomes have failed as the pigs lost weight (Hubbard, 1944).

Poultry 

The composition of Imperata cylindrica makes it unsuitable as feed ingredient for poultry. However, in an experiment on young chickens, supplementation of small quantities (2 to 6% DM) of Imperata cylindrica to the basal diet resulted in improved performance (Kencana et al., 1980).

Rabbits 

In Nepal, Imperata cylindrica is the most preferred food species (25.65% in winter; 45.68% in summer) of local hare (Caprolagus hispidus) (Tandan et al., 2013). In Mediterranean islands such as Lemnos, where Imperata cylindrica is the main grass in phryganic areas, this grass is frequently consumed by wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) during winter. It is, however, relatively discarded by rabbits during summer when the protein content of this forage and water contents are low (Kontsiotis et al., 2015). In Nigeria, experimental New Zealand White rabbits (0.5 to 1.5 kg liveweight) involved in a study on metal absorption were continuously fed with Imperata cylindrical together with Amaranthus hybridus and water ad libitum, with no particular problem (Ogah et al., 2016).

In Indonesia, a palatability trial of several available forages was conducted with domestic rabbits. The palatability of fresh Imperata was moderate: just lower than that of cassava leaves but clearly higher than that of Gliricidia  (Gliricidia sepium) leaves (Hidayat et al., 2009). Fresh imperata was distributed ad libitum with yam peels during 12 weeks to growing local rabbits, in Nigeria. Fresh Imperata cylindrica intake represented 53% of the daily dry matter intake (103 g/day) and allowed an average daily gain of 13 g/d, with an apparent dry matter digestibility higher than 80% (Onwuka et al., 2008).

This demonstrates that Imperata cylindrica fresh forage can be used to feed growing rabbits without particular restriction. Some experiments with dried or fresh forage included in balanced diets are still necessary to determine the practical nutritive value of alang-alang for domestic rabbits. However, according to the average chemical composition the calculated digestible content of this forage is most probably only 5.9-6.1 MJ/kg DM and protein digestibility about 40-42% (Lebas, 2016).

Nutritional tables

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Dry matter % as fed 31.9 5.0 23.8 39.2 16  
Crude protein % DM 6.5 2.0 3.5 11.2 21  
Crude fibre % DM 39.4 4.1 32.1 44.9 21  
NDF % DM 74.3 2.8 70.1 77.2 7 *
ADF % DM 45.7 1.8 41.5 46.8 7 *
Lignin % DM 6.6 0.9 6.6 10.2 7 *
Ether extract % DM 1.9 0.5 1.3 3.0 21  
Ash % DM 7.0 1.4 4.7 9.0 21  
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.6         *
               
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Calcium g/kg DM 3.3 3.5 0.9 17.4 19  
Phosphorus g/kg DM 1.4 0.6 0.4 2.6 19  
Potassium g/kg DM 11.7 5.3 3.6 19.1 15  
Sodium g/kg DM 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 3  
Magnesium g/kg DM 2.1 1.0 0.9 4.2 13  
Manganese mg/kg DM 89 79 18 193 4  
Zinc mg/kg DM 13 4 9 19 4  
Copper mg/kg DM 3 1 3 4 4  
               
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 57.2         *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 54.7         *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 10.1         *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 8.2         *
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants % 30.0       1  

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

CIRAD, 1991; Laksevela et al., 1970; Lim Han Kuo, 1967; Nasrullah et al., 2003; Pozy et al., 1996; Senanayake, 1995

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:34

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Crude protein % DM 3.8 1
Crude fibre % DM 39.7 1
NDF % DM 74.6 *
ADF % DM 46.0 *
Lignin % DM 6.7 *
Ether extract % DM 0.7 1
Ash % DM 7.8 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.0 *
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 52.9 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 49.5 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 8.9 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 7.2 *
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants % 34.0 1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Sen, 1938

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:34

References
References 
Datasheet citation 

Heuzé V., Tran G., Baumont R., Bastianelli D., Lebas F., 2021. Alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/425 Last updated on February 5, 2021, 15:08

English correction by Tim Smith (Animal Science consultant) and Hélène Thiollet (AFZ)