FODDER PRODUCTION FROM ASSOCIATIONS OF LEGUMINOUS SHRUBS AND GRASSES ON CONTOUR BUNDS IN THE HIGHLANDS OF BURUNDI

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.