COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OFLEUCAENA PALLIDAANDCALLIANDRA CALOTHYRSUSON AN ACID SOIL IN A SUB-HUMID ENVIRONMENT IN BURUNDI

Abstract

SUMMARY The influence at the first cutting on the growth and yield of Leucaena pallida and Calliandra calothyrsus was studied on an acid soil with high Al saturation in the mid-altitude highlands of Burundi. During the first 15 mo after planting, average leaf and wood yield of L. pallida were 1.2 and 1.1 t ha-1, respectively, whereas those of C. calothyrsus were 5.0 and 4.5 t ha-1, respectively. In the second year, average leaf yield of L. pallida was 24% of that of C. calothyrsus. The age at which L. pallida was cut back for the first time—3, 6, 9, 12 or 15 mo after planting—did not influence total leaf yield during the first 15 mo nor that of the subsequent nine mo of growth. Total leaf yield of C. calothyrsus was highest when the trees were cut back nine mo after planting. Relative to Calliandra, L. pallida showed relatively low productivity on the Al-toxic highland soil, and therefore it is not recommended for fodder or wood production in this environment.