nuagforest
8-4-2005, 12:45 pm
Some Important Information About Leucaena
Information About Leucaena - The Multiplier Tree
http://www.satglobal.com/leucaena_entry.htm
WHAT IS LEUCAENA?
Leucaena is a fast growing nitrogen fixing tree (FGNFT) with many uses. originated in Central America and grows in many places in the tropics. Because it fixes unusable nitrogen from the air and makes it useful to itself, other plants. and animals, it is extremely valuable to the environment. With its many varieties, Leucaena can produce nutritive forage (especially good for dairy and beef cattle, goats, and water buffalos).
It has multiple uses and is suitable for firewood, timber, charcoal, fence posts and rich organic fertilizer. It diverse uses in the tropics include use in tropical reforestation, revegetation of eroded hillsides and slopes. windbreaks, shade and nurse trees for tropical crops, and as an ornamental. It most useful future use will likely be usage in carbon sequestration against global warming. Leucaena grows in both the tall tree type and small bushy weedy type.
WILL LEUCAENA FIT YOUR FARM?
Leucaena is a perennial in the tropics . It grows in both the tropics and the subtropics. Leucaena grows best no higher than 500 meters above sea level. It grows at higher elevations , but slower and with less production. Leucaena prospers best with rainfall of 600-1700 mm. It can grow in many kinds of soils from rocky to heavy clay. Yet Leucaena prefers alkaline and neutral soils and grows poorly in acid soils.
LEUCAENA FOR CATTLE FEED?
Cattle feeding on Leucaena forage in Australia have shown some of the highest weight gains ever recorded in the tropics. Leucaena foliage is highly nutritious, palatable, digestible, and productive. It is best to feed Leucaena in combination with grass to prevent buildup of mimosine, an unusual amino acid found in Leucaena.
How VALUABLE IS LEUCAENA?
Cattle and goats love Leucaena. They relish the leaflets and young stems. Leucaena grows back within 2 to 3 weeks and can be ready for grazing again. It is best to graze on a one month rotation.
Leucaena can be grazed repeatedly. Some fields in Australia have been grazed constantly for 20 years without needing to be replanted.
The leaves are similar to alfalfa in digestibility. Protein content varies to up to 24%. Under favorable conditions, one hectare of Leucaena can produce 10 to 20, even 24 tons of edible matter, compared to 8 to 9 for alfalfa.
Leucaena should, be fed with , grass because, large quantities of Leucaena alone is too rich in Mimosine. Fed with a complimentary grass, Leucaena can be very productive. Cattle feeding near Brisbane, Australia, gained about 1 kg per day during the slow growing dry season. When the rainy season returned, cattle gained more than 1 kg per day.*
CAN LEUCAENA BE EASILY USED TO FEED LIVESTOCK IN FORMULATED FIELDS?
Leucaena can be an important ingredient of formulated livestock feeds As a matter of fact, in the tropics, it is vital that a source of nitrogen and protein be included in livestock feeds in order to produce a balanced ration. We can use Leucaena to take the place of alfalfa in tropical formulated feeds for cattle, sheep, goats, camels, water buffalos, even poultry.
The important factor in using Leucaena to replace alfalfa in tropical feed rations is proper formulation. The Modular Livestock Feed Production Systems is key to the development of livestock feed industries in the tropics.
Contact Dr. Carol Cross for more information on using Leucaena for livestock feed, fuelwood, biomass energy, paper pulp, fertilizer, green manure, shade crops and carbon sequestration.
http://www.satglobal.com/total_use_agroforestry.htm
Everyone Can Grow Leucaena
That is why in most countries of the world systems based on using plants to clean up soil, plants to hold back erosion, and plants to prevent further soil washing are being developed and promulgated. Agriculture is one area that every developing county has expertise in. Every campesino, every peasant farmer can grow Leucaena, vetiver and other plants for Leucaena Effect Agroforestry. It is a low cost, easy to apply, ready to use methodology.
To find out more about growing Leucaena and using it in your country, get the book, "The Leucaena Production Handbook".**
Information About Leucaena - The Multiplier Tree
http://www.satglobal.com/leucaena_entry.htm
WHAT IS LEUCAENA?
Leucaena is a fast growing nitrogen fixing tree (FGNFT) with many uses. originated in Central America and grows in many places in the tropics. Because it fixes unusable nitrogen from the air and makes it useful to itself, other plants. and animals, it is extremely valuable to the environment. With its many varieties, Leucaena can produce nutritive forage (especially good for dairy and beef cattle, goats, and water buffalos).
It has multiple uses and is suitable for firewood, timber, charcoal, fence posts and rich organic fertilizer. It diverse uses in the tropics include use in tropical reforestation, revegetation of eroded hillsides and slopes. windbreaks, shade and nurse trees for tropical crops, and as an ornamental. It most useful future use will likely be usage in carbon sequestration against global warming. Leucaena grows in both the tall tree type and small bushy weedy type.
WILL LEUCAENA FIT YOUR FARM?
Leucaena is a perennial in the tropics . It grows in both the tropics and the subtropics. Leucaena grows best no higher than 500 meters above sea level. It grows at higher elevations , but slower and with less production. Leucaena prospers best with rainfall of 600-1700 mm. It can grow in many kinds of soils from rocky to heavy clay. Yet Leucaena prefers alkaline and neutral soils and grows poorly in acid soils.
LEUCAENA FOR CATTLE FEED?
Cattle feeding on Leucaena forage in Australia have shown some of the highest weight gains ever recorded in the tropics. Leucaena foliage is highly nutritious, palatable, digestible, and productive. It is best to feed Leucaena in combination with grass to prevent buildup of mimosine, an unusual amino acid found in Leucaena.
How VALUABLE IS LEUCAENA?
Cattle and goats love Leucaena. They relish the leaflets and young stems. Leucaena grows back within 2 to 3 weeks and can be ready for grazing again. It is best to graze on a one month rotation.
Leucaena can be grazed repeatedly. Some fields in Australia have been grazed constantly for 20 years without needing to be replanted.
The leaves are similar to alfalfa in digestibility. Protein content varies to up to 24%. Under favorable conditions, one hectare of Leucaena can produce 10 to 20, even 24 tons of edible matter, compared to 8 to 9 for alfalfa.
Leucaena should, be fed with , grass because, large quantities of Leucaena alone is too rich in Mimosine. Fed with a complimentary grass, Leucaena can be very productive. Cattle feeding near Brisbane, Australia, gained about 1 kg per day during the slow growing dry season. When the rainy season returned, cattle gained more than 1 kg per day.*
CAN LEUCAENA BE EASILY USED TO FEED LIVESTOCK IN FORMULATED FIELDS?
Leucaena can be an important ingredient of formulated livestock feeds As a matter of fact, in the tropics, it is vital that a source of nitrogen and protein be included in livestock feeds in order to produce a balanced ration. We can use Leucaena to take the place of alfalfa in tropical formulated feeds for cattle, sheep, goats, camels, water buffalos, even poultry.
The important factor in using Leucaena to replace alfalfa in tropical feed rations is proper formulation. The Modular Livestock Feed Production Systems is key to the development of livestock feed industries in the tropics.
Contact Dr. Carol Cross for more information on using Leucaena for livestock feed, fuelwood, biomass energy, paper pulp, fertilizer, green manure, shade crops and carbon sequestration.
http://www.satglobal.com/total_use_agroforestry.htm
Everyone Can Grow Leucaena
That is why in most countries of the world systems based on using plants to clean up soil, plants to hold back erosion, and plants to prevent further soil washing are being developed and promulgated. Agriculture is one area that every developing county has expertise in. Every campesino, every peasant farmer can grow Leucaena, vetiver and other plants for Leucaena Effect Agroforestry. It is a low cost, easy to apply, ready to use methodology.
To find out more about growing Leucaena and using it in your country, get the book, "The Leucaena Production Handbook".**