Cover crop, erosion and weed controller, soil conditioner
In Brazil, Congo grass provides both fodder to livestock and good mulch material in no-till soybean plantations and no-till soybean-maize crop rotations (Ceccon et al., 2014; Lima et al., 2014). It was assessed in no-till sunflower crops where its high sensitivity to glyphosate provided rapid desiccation, and its high C:N ratio allowed the mulch to remain as a soil cover over an extended period (Giancotti et al., 2015). Congo grass has been used to control erosion in different situations. When used to make contour hedgerows around cassava crops in Asian hills, it was found to decrease cassava yields (Howeler et al., 1998). Congo grass was used as a cover crop to decrease soil temperature and conserve soil moisture in coffee plantations where temperatures were above 30°C (EDE. Consulting, 2015).
Soil nutrients recycling and phosphorus availability enhancer
Congo grass has a valuable nutrient recycling activity, and enhances soil properties (Calonego et al., 2013; Garcia et al., 2013). Congo grass was reported to decrease soil P fixation through acid phosphatase activity and the promotion of P-metabolizing micro-organisms (Janegitz et al., 2013). It subsequently enhances soil P availability for the next crops (Janegitz et al., 2013).