E. Akyeampong et Bh. Dzowela, FODDER PRODUCTION FROM ASSOCIATIONS OF LEGUMINOUS SHRUBS AND GRASSES ON CONTOUR BUNDS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF BURUNDI, Tropical grasslands, 30(3), 1996, pp. 330-334
An experiment was conducted to assess the possibility of quantitativel
y and qualitatively enhancing fodder production on contour bunds by as
sociating grasses and nitrogen-fixing shrubs. Treatments were pure hed
ges (2 rows) of a grass (Pennisetum purpureum or Tripsacum laxum) or a
shrub (Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena diversifolia or Sesbania sesb
an), and mixed hedges that comprised a row of a shrub and a row of a g
rass. Yields of mixed hedges of calliandra-tripsacum (2.06 kg/m) and l
eucaena-tripsacum (1.83 kg/m) were not significantly (P>0.05) differen
t from those of the pure tripsacum plots (2.22 kg/m). Sesbania did not
withstand repeated cutting in the second year and died out. Goats gra
zing tripsacum would suffer a protein deficiency relative to the avail
ability of energy. However, the higher N content of forage from mixed
calliandra-tripsacum and leucaena-tripsacum hedges would provide diges
tible protein levels above the maintenance requirement for goats. The
implications for livestock and crop production of producing higher qua
lity fodder from the mixed hedges are discussed. We recommend the plan
ting of calliandra-tripsacum and leucaena-tripsacum hedges for fodder
production on contour bunds in the highlands of Burundi.