Weed and soil erosion control
Elephant grass is a pioneer species that competes very efficiently with weeds (FAO, 2015; D'Antonio et al., 1992). In the Philippines, it has been used to control Imperata cylindrica (Skerman et al., 1990; Duke, 1983). In Nigeria, elephant grass has been used as mulch (25 cm layer) for weed control, for water storage and to reduce soil losses on slopes (Adekalu et al., 2007; Francis, 2004). Elephant grass develops a vigourous root system that may help to prevent river bank erosion. Planted as hedgerows, elephant grass makes fences and provides effective windbreaks for crops and houses. It is used for erosion control and forage production in alley-cropping systems of agroforestry (Magcale-Macandog et al., 1998).
Biological control agent of pests
Elephant grass in association with molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora) or Desmodium spp. may be a valuable biological agent to control the maize stemborer moth. The moth, pushed out of the field by molasses grass or Desmodium, lay eggs on elephant grass. When the larvae start boring elephant grass, the plant releases a sticky liquid that kills almost all larvae while the surviving ones are attacked by Cotesia sesamiae (Khan et al., 2007; Parrott, 2005).
Invasiveness
Elephant grass is considered a noxious weed in many places in the world (CABI, 2014). Its ability to out-compete other plants makes it very aggressive, particularly to communities of native plants. This has been reported in the Galapagos Islands (Mauchamp, 1997) and in Florida (Francis, 2004).
Methane production
Methane production by ruminants is linked to structural carbohydrates contained in forage-based diets. Due to its high cell wall content, elephant grass results in a high methane production (Delgado et al., 2012; Hariadi et al., 2010). The addition of 20-25% foliage of plants such as Acacia mangium, Biophytum petersianum, Jatropha curcas, Psidium guajava, Sapindus saponaria, Morus alba or Trichanthera gigantea to a basal diet of elephant grass significantly reduced in vitro methane production in comparison to elephant grass fed alone (Delgado et al., 2012; Hariadi et al., 2010).
Second generation energy crop
In the USA, the Environment Protection Agency agreed that elephant grass could be used as a source of biofuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program provided producers respect the Risk Management Plan for early detection and rapid response to potential spread (EPA, 2013).