What is Leucaena?
Comment by Paul R. Rayman, Brazil
"Leucaena is simply far and away the most productive forage plant."
"Leucaena ( scientific name leucaena luecocephale) is a relatively small to
average size tree. A leguminous tree which means it can harbour bacteria on
its roots capable of taking nitrogen from the air ( where this element is in
large supply) and fixing it in the soil where it can be put to good use for
plant growth especially for grasses which can't take it from air but must
get it through roots from the soil. The frond-like leaves of the plant have
a very high feeding value for ruminants- grazing animals- measured by
protein content and digestability ( low- fiber content). Cattle grazing
leucaena have made amazing daily weight gains of up to one kilo depending on
age/size of the animal. In other words, almost as much as cattle fed grain
supplement in troughs.
Leucaena has a very deep taproot giving it good drought resistance. It is
normally planted in rows with row spacing of 3 to 4 meters. Once the
leucaena has a good start, it must be free of weed competition in the
seedling stage, that is up to one meter high. From then on it'll take care
of itself and produce for thirty years or more if given good management. The
plant is sought by all types of grazing animals and also leaf cutting ants
so it must be protected in the development stage. It's well worth the
effort.
Once it has attained this stage the inter-row space can be planted to
other
valuable forage plants which are lower in stature so they don't interfere
with the leucaena. For example creeping forage peanuts (Arachis pintoi) a
low growing legume with as high feeding value as leucaena.Also low growing
creeping grasses such as Tifton'95 of the "coast cross" series can be used
together with the peanut. This combination gives full use of the space
without undue crowding/competition of one over the other."
"Leucaena is the ultimate test of a deer-proof fence!" Dr. Peter Felker,
Texas A&M. University
How to plant leucaena.
Before you get your seedlings:
A. Soil tests are cheap and very helpful. Make any necessary adjustments.
B. Have all your rows made and all other preparations made.
C. Line up your crew. 2 hard working people should be able to plant 1000
seedlings a day, maybe more.
D. Have some water on hand. Any way you have to do it is worth the effort.
If you water each plant with 1 pint, you need three 55gal drums of water,
very much worth the effort.
1. Plant in raised rows just like most crops. Space the rows far enough
apart to mow between. This means you only have to till the areas where there
will be a row. Later, if you want to plant between the rows, you can. This
is called alley farming. There is plenty of info on the net for this. If you
have planted a food plot in the same plot before, all the better. Maybe you
have killed some of the weeds.
2. Have one person plunge a sharpshooter shovel into the ground and push the
handle sideways to make a hole gap open. Another person can insert a
seedling. Make sure the root is straight down, not in a "J" shape. Step on
the ground at the base of the plant to pack the soil.
3. Watering at this time is worth hiring an extra person. If not, pray for
rain. Pray for rain anyway. Even leucaena needs rain to get established. It
only takes about two hours to water 1000 plants with plastic jugs. Don't
expect any vigorous growth the first couple of months. New roots have to
grow.
4. Control weeds the first year. "Post" or "Fusilade" are good for
grass
control. Any broadleaf weed killer will also kill leucaena. I use a
weedeater. It's worth the effort on small plots. When your plot gets
established, it won't need weed control any more.
5. After 3 or 4 months fertilize with PHOSHATE ONLY.
Management
When can I graze my leucaena?
Good question. If you don't graze leucaena the first year, especially if
rain is scarce, it has much better production the second year. But, if it
has good rainfall and it gets up to five feet tall, it is best to cut or let
the animals lightly graze it down to about two feet high. This promotes
branching, which is the secret to forage production. In following seasons
the animals will break down the branches to eat the leaves. You should be
able to graze several times a year or lightly all the time. When I'm
expecting a freeze, I let the animals eat all they want. The freeze kills
the stem back to the roots and the leaves fall anyway. If the plants get out
of control, use a shreader raised up to about 18". New shoots grow from the
stump.
Fertilize yearly with phosphate,NO NITROGEN.
These plants are bare-root seedlings. Leucaena provides 20-32%
protein. They are most easily planted by hand with one person on a
sharpshooter and one person planting and filling. The price is $100/thousand plus
shipping. They should be planted three feet apart in rows 4 ft wider than your
mowing equipment. One thousand covers about one acre in this scheme.
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