Leucaena leucocephala : an excellent feed for livestock

It can be fed fresh, or as leaf meal, silage, or browse to cows, goats, chickens, and a variety of fish. This report describes characteristics, uses, and planting procedures for LL. Lucaena"s many varieties, of which the "Giants" (K-8, K-28, K-67) are the most promising, are fast-growing, rugged, drought resistent, and because Rhizobia live in a symbiotic relationship with the plant"s roots, are able to fix nitrogen from the air. LL is a superior forage to alfalfa in terms of both nutritive value (vitamin A and protein) and digestability and can yield up to 20 tons of dry matter per hectare per year. Although LL also contains mimosine, a toxic alkaloid, ruminants can still be fed a continuous ration of 40% LL, and non-ruminants thrive on 5-10% LL without adverse effect. A new, low-mimosine LL is being developed and should be available soon. LL-planted pastures can support up to 2.5 cows per ha, but both overgrazing and overgrowth must be checked. LL is an effective weapon against soil erosion and serves to suppress noxious weeds. For fields and planted pastures it is desireable to interplant LL with Guinea, Bermuda, Dallis, Pangola, or Kenya Sheep grass to reduce weed growth, increase ground water levels, and provide a more balanced forage. For marginal, hilly, or very dry land, it is preferrable to plant LL, allow growth, cut the plants back to stumps, allow regrowth, and underplant with a shade-resistant grass such as Guatemala grass. LL requires adequate phosphate, potash, sulfur, cobalt, and molybdenum; high amounts of magnesium; and low levels of calcium. Large, dense seeds should be chosen, then scarified, and innoculated with Rhizobium. Pelletization (coating with fertilizer) is also recommended. Although direct seeding is more efficient, seedling propagation/replanting is also common. With 100% germination, 1 kg of seeds planted 1 m apart will sow a 9 ha field. In either case, seedlings should be pruned to reduce dieback and evapotran- spiration. A 19-item bibliography (1942-78) is appended.