Digitaria Nigritiana (hack.) Stapf

Origin

Digitaria nigritiana (Hack.) Stapf, also known as Black fingergrass, is a species of grass that is native to Africa.

Common names

Aside from Black fingergrass, Digitaria nigritiana is also called African fingergrass in English. It has vernacular names in different African languages such as "ene" in Yoruba, "gulumba" in Luganda, and "glick" in Nuer.

Uses

In Africa, Digitaria nigritiana is typically used for forage and fodder for ruminant livestock. It is notable for its palatability and high nutritional value, containing a good amount of protein and fiber. The plant is also used in traditional medicine, with various preparations said to treat toothaches, diarrhea, and dysentery.

Appearance

Digitaria nigritiana is a perennial grass that typically grows up to 1 meter tall. It has blackish-purple stems and leaves that are up to 25 cm long and 1 cm wide. The leaves are sometimes slightly twisted and may have a slightly rough texture. The inflorescence is an open panicle that can be up to 30 cm long, with numerous black or dark purple spikelets that are about 2 mm long each.

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Light Requirements

Digitaria nigritiana is a sunlight-loving species that prefers direct exposure to the sun. As such, it requires a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day to grow properly. Any less than this, and the plant may fail to thrive or grow weakly.

Temperature Requirements

Digitaria nigritiana is an equatorial species, and thus requires a warm and humid climate to grow properly. The optimal temperature range for this species is between 20-30 degrees Celsius. This plant will not tolerate very low temperatures or freezing temperatures, which will lead to damage or death.

Soil Requirements

The soil required for optimal growth of Digitaria nigritiana should be well-drained, loamy, and fertile. This plant prefers soil with pH values ranging from slightly acidic to neutral. Soil that is too alkaline or acidic may affect the plant's growth negatively. Adequate soil moisture is also essential for growth, although this plant does not tolerate waterlogged soil. Therefore, it is recommended to grow it in well-drained soils with moderate soil moisture.

Cultivation Methods

Digitaria nigritiana, also known as Black Finger Grass, requires full sunlight and can be grown in a variety of well-draining soils. It can be grown from seed, which should be sown at a depth of about 1 to 2 centimeters. The ideal temperature range for the germination of its seeds is between 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. It requires regular weeding to prevent competition for nutrients and moisture.

Watering Needs

Black Finger Grass requires regular watering during the growing season to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. It is important to avoid letting the soil dry out completely, as this can affect the plant's ability to produce new growth. However, care should be taken not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot. Watering should be reduced during the dormant season to prevent the roots from sitting in wet soil.

Fertilization

Digitaria nigritiana requires regular fertilization to ensure healthy growth. A balanced fertilizer with equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is ideal. The fertilizer should be applied every six to eight weeks during the growing season. Care should be taken not to over-fertilize, as this can lead to excessive vegetative growth and reduced flowering.

Pruning

Pruning Black Finger Grass is mainly done to remove dead or damaged leaves, stems, and flowers. This improves the overall appearance of the plant and encourages new growth. Pruning should be done at the beginning of the growing season before new growth appears. Black Finger Grass does not require heavy pruning, and care should be taken not to remove too much new growth, as this can affect flowering.

Propagation of Digitaria nigritiana (Hack.) Stapf

Propagation of Digitaria nigritiana is typically done through seeds. The plant produces seeds that are dispersed by wind and can be collected and sown in pots or directly in the soil.

To propagate Digitaria nigritiana from seeds, the seeds should be collected when the inflorescence turns brown and the seeds begin to separate from the spikelets. The seeds should be cleaned and kept in a cool and dry place until they are ready to be sown.

Before sowing, the seeds can be soaked in water for 24 hours to improve germination rates. The seeds can then be sown in pots or directly in the soil. The recommended planting depth is about 1 cm, and the recommended spacing is about 10 cm between plants. The soil should be kept moist until the seeds have germinated.

Care should be taken to protect the young seedlings from pests and diseases. Once the seedlings have grown to a suitable size, they can be transplanted to their final position.

Disease Management

Digitaria nigritiana (Hack.) Stapf is susceptible to several foliar diseases like smut, rust, leaf spot, and anthracnose. To manage these diseases, the following practices are recommended:

• Plant resistant varieties: Plant resistant varieties that exhibit tolerance or resistance to the disease.
• Cultural management: Practice good cultural management techniques like crop rotation, appropriate fertilizer application, and proper irrigation to reduce the severity of disease.
• Chemical control: Use chemicals like fungicides to manage existing diseases. However, this should be the last resort, as overreliance on chemical pesticides can lead to resistance, harm beneficial insects and pollinators, and affect human health.

Pest Management

Digitaria nigritiana (Hack.) Stapf can also be attacked by pests such as grasshoppers, aphids, cutworms, and armyworms. Here are some methods to manage them:

• Cultural management: Practice good cultural management techniques like regular weeding, crop residue management, and maintaining good hygiene to reduce pest pressure.
• Biocontrol: Introducing natural predators like lady beetles, spiders, and parasitic wasps can help control pest populations.
• Chemical control: If pest pressure is high, use pesticides that specifically target the pest while being harmless to beneficial insects.