Kyasuma Grass (Cenchrus pedicellatus)
Description
Pennisetum pedicellatum, known simply as desho or as desho grass, is an indigenous grass of Ethiopia belonging to the Poaceae family of monocot angiosperm plants. It is also known as annual kyasuwa grass in Nigeria, bare in Mauritania, and deenanath grass in India. It grows in its native geographic location, naturally spreading across the escarpment of the Ethiopian highlands. Widely available in this location, it is ideal for livestock feed and can be sustainably cultivated on small plots of land.Thus desho is becoming increasingly utilized, along with various soil and water conservation techniques, as a local method of improving grazing land management and combating a growing productivity problem of the local region.Desho is a herbaceous perennial grass which has a massive root system that anchors to the soil.It has a high biomass producing capacity and grows upright with the potential of reaching 90 cm to 120 cm in height depending on soil fertility. Desho is planted by cuts which have good survival rates and establish better compared to grasses planted by seed.[8Moreover, desho grows rapidly and is drought resistant once established. Desho is said to have high nutritive values and is naturally palatable for livestock.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Poales
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Family: Poaceae
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Genus: Cenchrus
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