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Fetalvero Paper
1. Tiger Grass, Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.)
O. Kuntze: A review of its biology
and uses
by
Eddie G. Fetalvero
EDSC 350
PhD in Education (major in Biology Educ.)
UP Open University, Los Baños ,Laguna
2. Presentation Outline
Purpose of the Review
Brief Biology
Uses
Industry
Medicine
Agriculture
Bioengineering
Phytoremediation
Climate Change Adaptation
Other Uses
Challenges
Conclusion
3. Purpose of the Review
To come up with a comprehensive compilation of
literature about the potentials of T. maxima as a
multipurpose crop backed by scientific studies
and investigations, since in the Philippines, it is
mainly utilized as materials for soft broom
making only.
To provide inputs for the R&D unit of my
University and other R&D institutions in the
country in setting the research roadmap for this
potential crop.
7. Biogeography (Philippines)
Ilocos Norte, Apayao,
Bontoc, Benguet, Nueva
Viscaya, Nueva Ecija, La
Union, Bulacan,
Zambales, Bataan,
Laguna, Tayabas,
Sorsogon, Cebu, Mindoro,
Palawan, Batangas,
Romblon and other places
in Mindanao
13. Soft Brooms
High demand in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Japan and
Middle East
One hectare yields US$503 (Vernon, 2006)
Annual Indian broom market estimate is US$60M (Shankar et
al., 2001)
1 ton of flowers processed into soft brooms fetches about
US$1,333 (Bhuchar, 2008)
Worth of flowers increases up to 2.65 times if processed into
soft brooms (Fetalvero et al., 2011)
Return on Investment is 1.7 times of the total investment
(Bhuchar, 2008)
14. Unique “X” Species in Laos?
“A new variety of tiger grass,
introduced to Houn district in
Oudomxay by a Thai investor, has
more bristles and produces
different ‘male’ and ‘female’
stems. The female stems are
preferred for broom making, as
they have many more bristles. The
taxonomy of this new variety is not
yet clear.”
http://www.tabi.la/lao-ntfpwiki/index.php/Dok_khaem
15. Pulp and Paper
A potential source of raw material
for pulp-and- paper making
industries either alone or in
combination with other raw
materials (Saikia et al., 1992)
Fibers (1.25 mm long) are
obtained from the culms at 45%
yield and are processed into
papers
Paper properties:
Burst factor: 30
Breaking length: 3,555
Tear factor: 106
16. Pulp and Paper
Pulps are processed into insulation
boards with very good strength but
moderate heat insulating
properties
Moisture resistance compared
favorably with the imported ones
(Razzaque and Khan, 1978)
Leaves have been tried in
cellulase and ethanol production
(Yimyong et al., 2005)
18. Medicinal Uses
ROOTS
Positively respond against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, B. subtillis, E.
coli (Mahato and Chaudhary, 2005)
Decoction: bronchial problem, flatulence, mouthwash during fever,
halitosis, mouth sore, anthelmintic
Paste: boils
FLOWERS
Poultice: rheumatic pain and skin swelling
Paste: contraceptive for women, boils and cancer
STEM
Juice of young stem: red and dirty eyes
20. Agricultural Uses
Tender culms, leaves and tips are used as fodders
for cattle, elephant, buffaloes and rabbits.
One of the most preferred fodders for butterfat
production among ruminants; palatable to livestock
even during rain or cold weather conditions
It satisfies appetite of buffalo for 6.33 hrs. (Subba et
al., 2004).
Rumen degradability after 48 h ranges within 404 to
488 g/kg (Huque et al., 2001)
21. Rabbit Experiment
(Rohilla & Bujarbaruah, 2000)
PARAMETER T1 T2 T3
(fresh T. maxima (100% dried and ground (mixture of 40% dried and
leaves) T. maxima leaves) ground T. maxima leaves
with 60% concentrate)
Growth 9.76 11.78 15.73
(g/day)
Dry Matter 106.99 112.65 115.72
Intake (DMI)
(g/day)
Subjects: 18 rabbits (6 per treatment), 10-12 weeks old
Duration: 105 days
Result: Tiger grass feeding had a significant effect on growth
and dry matter intake (DMI) of rabbits (α<0.05).
22. Nutritional Values of Leaf
(Bhuchar, 2008)
Parameter Palni et al. Singh et al. Bhuchar
(1994) (1995) (2002)
Digestibility 57.9 - 54.3 - 57.9
Total Ash 11.8 5.65 10.7 - 11.8
Ether extract 6.67 1.94 4.2 - 6.7
N-free extract 33.1 51.6 39.3 - 44.6
Crude protein 18.1 10.2 15.1 - 18.2
Crude fiber 30.4 30.5 29.5 - 31.0
Cellulose 30.2 - 30.3 - 37.8
Hemicellulose 29.6 - 29.6 - 34.4
Lignin 9.1 - 4.6 -9.2
The leaves have balanced proportion of nutrients
qualifying them as good forage and fodder for livestocks
23. Drawbacks
Produces more foliage (Kafle, 2005), however
its leaf to stem ratio is less (Livestalk, 2011).
Palatability is less; causes haematuria among
cattle and buffaloes (Joshil & Singh, 1989).
Preferred fodder for milk production, but animal
response is low (Subba et al., 2002).
25. Soil and Water Conservation
Its cultivation promotes nature friendly, cost-
effective and sustainable use of fragile and
degraded lands
Roots bind the soil and protect topsoil and
nutrient erosion on sloping terrain, agricultural
fields and landslide.
Used as backup fodder grass on contour strips
and terrace risers, a good soil cover, a crop to
maximize land use, a tool for management of
pine forest, a protection from forest fires and a
slope stabilizer in hills and mountains.
26. Soil and Water Conservation
Contour planting with tiger grass shows better
performance in terms of vegetative cover,
surface runoff and erosion yield in newly burned
pine watershed; cheapest among the treatments
investigated for revegetation and rehabilitation
(Costales, 1985).
Suitable hedgerow species in controlling soil loss
(55-80%) and runoff (30-70%) using CHIAT
(Khisa, 2001).
27. Soil and Water Conservation
Improves soil fertility and productivity when
planted with Cajanas cajan than as a sole crop
(RFRI, 2007).
Improves forage production and soil
conservation if planted in agriculture terrace
margins without affecting the productivity of the
crops.
Effective vegetative barrier in controlling soil
erosion, improving crop yield and restoring soil
fertility (although not as comparable with the
other two grasses studied) (Sudhishri et al.,
2008).
28. Bioengineering
Plot Type Water runoff Soil loss CV water CV soil
(liter) (kg) (%) (%)
Maize 25±4 1.51±0.16 69 56
Finger-mullet 18±3 1.32±0.14 78 62
Mixed cropping 12±3 0.95±0.12 85 73
Large cardamom 15±3 0.45±0.06 81 87
Broom grass 10±2 0.41±0.07 88 88
Bare land 80±11 3.46±0.35 - -
Land Use Type Soil loss (t/yr/ha) Runoff (%)
Outward sloping terrace 10.4 2.8
Degraded land 21.3 40.1
Degraded land treated with broom grass 12.6 16.5
CV: Conservation value
29. Bioengineering
Engineering functions of grasses: catch, armor,
reinforce, anchor, support and drain (Clark and
Hellin, 1996).
T. maxima has excellent catch, moderately
useful armor, excellent reinforce and moderately
useful support.
Hydrologic functions: excellent soil binding
capacity and ground surface protection,
interception, storage, leaf drip but moderate
infiltration (Kafle, 2005).
30. Bioengineering Characteristics of T. maxima
(Kafle, 2005)
Rooting depth Quantity of planting material required
7.0 to 9.5 m For single row of 5m, 10m, 25m, 50m,
75m, 100m length, quantity of planting
Root lateral spread material is 4, 10, 21, 31 and 41
10.3 to 13.2 m radial respectively.
For double row of 5m, 10m, 25m, 50m,
Height 75m, 100m length, quantity of planting
3.2 to 4.9 m material is 5, 11, 29, 62, 92 and 122
respectively.
Ground surface area protected by
foliage against direct raindrop effect
47.19 to 82.87 m2 Shade effect
Mean: 66.49 m2 Max. 6.8m for mean height 3.9m
Volume of Soil bound by roots
2.33 to 5.20 m3 Type of root
Mean: 3.78 m3 Fibrous
Effective Spacing Propagation
Plain: 2.40 m
Slip cuttings
Slope: 1.80 m
33. Bo Ngam Lead Mine, Thailand
(Rotkittikhun, et al., 2007)
34. Lead Experiment
(Rotkittikhun, et al., 2007)
T. maxima is comparable with
vetiver grass for
phytostabilization.
Shows very high tolerance to
lead concentrations in its roots
and shoots up to 100,000
mg/kg. Tiger grass
Application of inorganic Vetiver grass
fertilizer (150mg/kg)
improves its growth and
uptake of Pb, while amending
the soil with pig manure
reduces the roots’ uptake and
transport of Pb.
35. Water Level Experiment
(Sengupta, et al., 2004)
Independent: water level (below surface,
saturated, 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm)
Dependent: Soil and water nutrients, plant
growth and nutrient uptake
Controlled: 60 x 60 x 60 cm cement tank
Nos. of replication: 3
Plants per tank: 5
Duration: 12 weeks
Measurements: before and after
36. Water Level Experiment
(Sengupta, et al., 2004)
Soil and Water Nutrients:
No significant change in carbon
P and N concentrations decreased with time
Plant Growth
Height increase: 79 cm
Shoot increase: 12 (20 cm treatment)
Biomass increase: 2.85g (leaves), 5.56g (stems), 5.32g (roots)
Nutrient Uptake
P accumulation in wet soils:
0.37g (leaves), 0.74g (stems) and 0.66g (roots)
P accumulation at 20 cm water depth:
1.18g (leaves), 5.4g (stems), 3.5g (roots)
N concentration in leaves increased by 1.2% ranging from 12.8mg
in wet soil to 63.4 mg at 20 cm water depth
37. Fertilization Experiment
(Sengupta, et al., 2004)
Independent: application of DHAP (control, 50,
100, 250 and 500 mg/kg)
Dependent: soil nutrients, growth, biomass and
nutrient uptake
Controlled: pot size
Nos. of replication: 3
Plants per pot: 4
Duration: 9 weeks
Measurements: every after 3 weeks for 9 weeks
38. Fertilization Experiment
(Sengupta, et al., 2004)
Soil and Water Nutrients:
No significant change in carbon
P and N concentrations increased with increasing DAHP supply
Plant Growth
Shoot length increase: 21.9 cm (500mg)
Biomass increase: 0.55g (leaves), 0.55g (stems), 0.93g (roots)
Nutrient Uptake
P accumulation is highest in roots:
0.046% (control), 0.208% (500 mg)
N concentration is highest in the leaves
40. Adapted for Climate Change
A C4 species; can withstand drought (Saxena and
Ramakrishnan, 1983).
Villagers (65%) in Nepal reported that T. maxima
is the best adapted species for climate change
(Khadka, 2011).
Significant rise (83%) in tiger grass cultivation in
Meghalaya, India during the past three decades
because it is least affected by climate change
(Lyngdoh & Baishya, 2010).
42. Other Uses
Leaves have been used as substrates in the
cultivation of oyster mushroom, Pleurotus sp.
Leaf extract exhibited moderate attractive potency to
oriental fruit fly, a destructive pest
Weed suppressor, support stake for trailing crops,
landscape and ornament
Leaves: mulching, roofing material, wrapper for
steamed foods
Culms: fuel, reed-pens, support for cotton wick, wall
building material
Panicles: organic paintbrush, carnival costumes,
decorative extenders
44. Challenges
Overconsumption makes it vulnerable to local
extinction
Reported to be susceptible to fire (NCVST, 2009)
as against report of Baldino (2002).
Depletion of gene pool
Capacity to outcompete native species
46. Conclusions
There is a body of scientific evidence supporting
the potential and significance of T. maximaI as a
multi-purpose crop.
The grass is best adapted for climate change due
to its C4 nature and based from reports from the
field about its tolerance to drought plus the
increasing number of farms established each
year.
Can be an environment-friendly alternative in
restoring mined out areas in the country as it was
found to absorb lead and antimony.
47. Conclusions
It can help mitigate climate-change related
disasters because of its water and soil
conservation and bioengineering potential.
Its potential as a traditional herbal remedy must
be scientifically validated and its potential as
feeds must be perfected.
Its potential as feedstock for biomass
technologies must be explored through PPP.