Subabul

Other Names

Safed babool, Soundal, Leucaena leucocephala, River Tamarind

Seed Rate

3Kgs per acre

Germination time

6 to 9 days

Sowing Method

Pre-treatment needed before sowing:

Method 1: Soak the seeds in cold water for 2 to 3 days

Method 2: Soak the seeds in hot water (@ 80⁰c) for 2-3 minutes. This accelerates germination and then keep seeds in normal water for 12-15 hours.

In either of above method, use only best soaked seeds for sowing. Keep remaining unsoaked seeds in wet jute cloth for further soaking and sow the soaked seeds on next day and so on. Seeds should not be sown deeper than 1-2 cm.

Method 3: Acid scarification is done by dipping the seeds in concentrated sulphuric acid for three minutes and washing thoroughly with tap water.

Preferably the distance between two plants can be kept as 2-2.5 ft in a line and distance between two lines of plants may be 4-4.5 ft for easy access to land preparation and fodder cutting.

Soil Requirement

It requires deep well drained neutral soil and can tolerate saline and acid soil. It can also be grown in steep slopes, hilly terrains, gravelly areas and sandy loams.

Irrigation

Irrigate frequently (if water available) when grown exclusively for fodder. Irrigation increases fodder production.

Harvesting of leaves for fodder

Plants can be harvested in as short as 6 months after planting. However, the initial cutting should not be done until the trunk has attained at least 3 cm diameter.

The trees can be cut at 90 to 100 cm (3ft) height from ground level.

Harvests can be repeated once in 40 – 70 days depending upon growth and season. In drought prone areas, allow the trees to grow for two years to ensure deep root penetration before commencing harvest.

Uses

Animal fodder, for planting city streets and highways, to green up the urban patches, wood for making paper pulp & as a fuel

Features

Excellent fodder for animals, both in good rainfall areas as well as in dry and drought-prone areas.

Its use in fodder, increases the meat production and milk production. Even reduces the need for concentrate supplementation.

Caution

Leucaena contains an anti-nutrition compound Mimosine which can cause toxicity in animals. However, researchers showed that in a short time the gut of animals adapt and degrade Mimosine.