Molasses
Introduction
- Scientific name: Melinis minutiflora
- Spreading summer growing perennial herb.
- Leaves have sweetish smell and is adapted to tropical and subtropical climate with moderate rainfall.
- Is fairly drought resistant and persists through dry season.
Climate
- Prefers tropical and subtropical climate with moderate rainfall.
- Highly susceptible to frost and water logging.
Soil
- Performs well in well drained clay loam soils.
- Cultivated with good success in dry sloppy land.
Land Preparation
- Plowed in early spring to a fine texture for sowing on the prepared seed bed since seeds are very small and light.
- Could be established in the ashes of pasture or forest burn.
Fertilization
- Desirable to use 60 Kg Nitrogen, 100 Kg Phosphorous and 40 Kg Potash per hectare of land.
Propagation
- Can be propagated both by stem cuttings and seed sowing.
Sowing time and seed rate
- Sown after rains, when there is enough moisture in the soil in the month of June/ July.
- Seed rate is 5 Kg per hectare of land.
Seed harvesting and yield
- For seed, don’t cut more than once.
- Flowers in the October and the seed matures in January-February and then dried in sun.
- Seed collected wither manually or mechanically.
- Seed yield ranges from 200-250 kg per hectare of land.