Bieri [SMTP:m.bieri_ing@swissonline.ch] wrote:
>I have a question about your fodder production system. You have
>foreseen to cultivate Napier grass (Graminea) and Leucena (N-fixing
>shrub/tree). This in fact is a good combination. But after your pictures
>they are planted as monocultures. Find a way to create a manageable
>mixed culture that has much more advantages. The "grass? profits
>from the N-rich leave fall of Leucena and I am sure the pest (psyllids)
>pressure on Leucena will be greatly reduced.

thank you for your suggestion on mixed cropping, which would help to reduce
pest migration for Leucena. As for the leave fall, there will probably be
little of it due to frequent harvesting and as compost will be used as the
organic fertiliser.

>Have you also planned to plant Leucena trees in the grass land to
>increase the nutritional value of the fodder or have you foreseen there
>to grow other leguminose plants ?

Pozo Verde Farm uses Star grass and pizamo with yields of about 200
tons/ha/yr. Similar yields is possible with aquatic plants. Our
calculations are based on 10-20 tons dry weight/ha/yr.

I will let Simon comment further as he is more familiar with local yields
and fodder crop production.

regards
jacky