School compounds are so large and keeping them clean is almost a mystery.However all this grass could be turned into useful material at any time.Please suggest a few agricultural benefits of such grass. We are preparing to have small garden plots for senior one starting 2012 and i think such grass will find its way there.
Interesting project and it reminds me of this project: https://picasaweb.google.com/Sidkvist/ProjectLocalGrowthEnergyInTanzania20110817To25?authuser=0&feat=directlink
The purpose is to harvest grass and make briquettes of it so it then can be used as firewood as a complement to sticks. The first briquetting machine was installed in Kileo, Tanzania Sep 2011.
Please contact me for more information and visit http://www.bioenerginord.com/?page_id=4&lang=en
Please tell us more about this since even now our tractor is cutting more grass only to be collected and burnt.
the grass can definitely be of great use in the gardens for moisture preservation
could it be used as manure as well? If the gardens are not yet ready, could the grass be maybe be left to decompose and used as manure?
Looking forward to the student gardens
I am a Veterinary Doctor, working with the Ministry of Agriculture. My advice will be tilted towards Livestock Production (and Dairy in particular):
1) GREEN GRASS FEEDING: The grass can be fed as a green feed soon after cutting, and better after it has wilted a bit, but on the same day.
2) HAY MAKING: The cut grass should be collected in a specific place, still in the compound. This grass should be spread and turned when there is sunshine. For quick drying, the grass should be turned two or three times daily for two to three days, while still in the compound. If it threatens to rain, then quickly collect in in big hips like big anti-hills, so that when and if it rains then the water runs over so that the grass below remains dry. Better still the hips can be covered with polythene sheets. When sun comes again then the grass is spread again. GOOD HAY MUST HAVE NO MOISTURE REMAINING, YET MAINTAIN THE GREEN COLOUR.
MAKING A HAY BOX: Measurements (1m (length) x 0.5m (w) x o.5m (h) or 3ft (length) x 1.5ft (w) x 1.5ft (h)). The box is bottomless and has a detached bottom, with a slightly wider base than the bottomless box (1.25 m (length) x 0.75m (w). The box has two handles at each end.
TYING THE HAY: The box is placed on its bottom, two long sisal strings are placed inside each side of the box (a total of 4 strings) and grass is put and compacted by stepping in the box by one or two people. The strings are then tied (with slip knots) tight from each side to make a SMART BALE. The box is lifted from its bottom, leaving the bale of hay on the bottom of the box. The bale can then be lifted by one or two people and taken for storage in a shade and off the ground and kept for the dray season feeding in the future. If this is done every time grass is cut, a very big teed resource will be built for the animals over time.
NB. THIS PROCESS SHOULD BE STARTED QUICKLY, AND I CAN BE CALLED UPON WHEN YOU START THE PROCESS SO AS TO GIVE SOME PRACTICAL TIPS. WE SHOULD NOT LOOSE TIME AND SHOULD START RIGHT NOW.
3) DRIED COW DUNG AND STRAW FOR COOKING: When this grass is cut when it is overgrown, it can be mixed with the dung – like ‘Big Chapattis’, dried in the sun and kept / stored in a dry place (best under the sun). These can then be used in cooking to save on the use of charcoal and electricity or gas.
4) MULCHING: To a lesser extent, some of this grass could be used for mulching in the banana plantation or the flowers in the compound for the purpose of maintaining moisture and eventually making manure.
PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ANY ASSISTANCE.
Dr D. K. N. Semambo
NAGRC&DB
Tel. 0772421469
E-mail. cattbrd@gmail.com