Study design/Study B2

Fifty six Napier grass accessions were grown at two sites in Ethiopia: Debre Zeit (as in Study A) and Zwai. Both sites are ILRI research stations (several kilometres apart), with Zwai at an altitude of 1650 mm, 200 mm lower than Debre Zeit. The Zwai Research Station also experiences slightly lower rainfall and slightly higher temperatures than Debre Zeit.

The accessions were planted in randomised blocks in similar arrangements to Study A with accessions randomised to plots. Plot shape, however, was slightly different. Here, each plot was 5 metres in length and contained a single row of 10 plants, each spaced 0.5 metres apart. Rows were planted one metre apart. Similar agronomic and morphological traits were measured as in Study A.