NuminousTM India

Subabul
Other Names Safed babool, Soundal, Leucaena leucocephala, River Tamarind
Seed Rate 3Kgs per acre
Germination 6 to 9 days
time
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 It requires deep well drained neutral soil and can tolerate saline and acid soil. It
Requirement 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 Plants can be harvested in as short as 6 months after planting. However, the initial
leaves for cutting should not be done until the trunk has attained at least 3 cm diameter.
fodder 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.