Chrysanthemum grass, also known as Champagne grass, is a perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. It typically grows between 2 to 3 meters tall, with a strong and well-developed root system that spreads in the topsoil layer of 10–30 cm. The plant produces multiple leafy clumps, with only the basal leaf rosette developing during the first year after sowing. The stems are four-angled and covered with white hairs when young. The leaves are oblong, reaching up to 40 cm in length and 28 cm in width, with a slightly curled shape. The edges of the leaves are notched and sparsely hairy, while the base of the leaves has petioles and the upper leaves are sessile. The flower heads appear at the top of the second-order branches, exhibiting floral heterogeneity. The outermost two to three layers are male or female flowers, while the central disk contains bisexual flowers. The fruit is heart-shaped, flat, brown, and features teeth along its edge.
This plant is highly adaptable, tolerating extreme temperatures ranging from -38°C to 39°C. It can be cultivated throughout China and shows strong resistance to diseases and moderate drought tolerance. However, it does not perform well in saline or waterlogged soils. It thrives in sandy loam or loam soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5, and annual rainfall of 450–1000 mm. For optimal yields, sufficient water and nutrients are essential.
Sowing can be done in spring (late March to mid-May) or autumn (late August to October). Choose fertile, well-drained land, and prepare the soil thoroughly with adequate base fertilizer. A common recommendation is 30 kg of urea or 100 kg of ammonium bicarbonate per 0.067 hectares, combined with 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer. Seedlings can be grown directly or transplanted from a nursery. Planting spacing is usually 60 cm x 60 cm or 60 cm x 30 cm, with 0.2–0.3 kg of seeds per 0.067 hectares. Seeds should be sown about 3 cm deep, and seedlings are ready for transplanting when they have 2–3 true leaves. On average, 3,000–4,000 plants per 667 square meters are produced, and a seed field can yield around 660 plants per 0.067 hectares.
Field management includes regular weeding and proper irrigation and fertilization. After each harvest, apply 10 kg of urea per 0.067 hectares to maintain productivity.
Harvesting begins when the plant reaches 60–80 cm in height, allowing for 4–5 cuts per year. Fresh grass yield can range from 10,000 to 20,000 kg per 0.067 hectares, with some varieties exceeding 30,000 kg. This plant not only produces high yields but also offers excellent nutritional value. At the stem extraction stage, dry matter content reaches 88.1%, with crude protein accounting for 20.6% of the dry matter.
Fresh grass can be mixed with other palatable forages for feeding, or dried into hay. It can also be crushed and mixed with concentrates. For silage, it’s best blended with grasses or straw due to its lower sugar content compared to cereals. When feeding cattle, 20 kg of fresh grass per day is recommended; for sheep, 8 kg; for pigs, 4–6 kg; and for rabbits, 0.3 kg. When mixed with concentrate feed, the grass powder should make up 15–20% of the mixture.
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