Napier grass strips are gaining some acceptance in Southeast Asia as a vegetative
means of soil erosion control, due to the relative ease of establishment and management. In
addition, the napier grass strips aid productivity of agroforestry systems by providing mulch or
by being fed to livestock. In this paper, a bioeconomic comparison of different ways of
utilising the napier grass cuttings is undertaken. The three uses examined for the cuttings were:
as mulch in the alley areas, sold as fodder, and fed to animals with manure applied back to the
system. The analysis linked the soils-oriented SCUAF model with economic and animal component
models. SCUAF was parameterized using field data based on farmer interviews and field
visits. Farmer interviews and field visits were conducted at Claveria, Misamis Oriental to gather
additional data regarding costs and returns associated with animal production, and also to obtain
the farm gate price of napier. Predicted biophysical results produced by the SCUAF model
showed that application of napier grass cuttings, back into the system, directly as mulch or
indirectly as animal manure resulted in higher maize and napier yields, lower soil erosion rates,
and less of a reduction in soil mineral nitrogen and soil labile carbon levels. The comparison
was made with the case where napier was sold off-farm as fodder. Cost-benefit analysis showed
that higher economic returns were gained when napier grass cuttings were fed to animals, rather
than applied directly as mulch. This economic benefit was attributed to the draught and transport
services rendered by the animal and to a change in the value of the animals. This analysis
highlights the value of utilizing animals within a napier grass strip system for control of erosion.