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leucaena

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit

Family: Fabaceae · Genus: Leucaena

white leadtree, jumbay

Secondary I High Fertilizer biomass 🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🪓 Coppices after cutting
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Fast-growing nitrogen-fixing tree legume with strong coppicing ability. Cited by Pasini as a tree-form fertilizer biomass species — sources fertilizer biomass, protein-rich fodder, and early shade for syntropic systems.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Mimosa leucocephala Lam., Acacia glauca (L.) Willd., Leucaena glauca (L.) Benth., Leucaena glabrata Rose

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary I
Ecological role
Early secondary
Primary stratum
High
Strata
High, Medium
Biomass class
Fertilizer biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
High
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
5–8.5
Hardiness zones
9–12

Morphology

Mature height
5–15 m
Recommended spacing
3–10 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Very fast
Time to first harvest
12 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Leucaena takes the High stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time. It also fixes nitrogen, feeding the soil for its line neighbors.

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Emergent High · ≈15 m Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Fast-growing, drought-hardy N-fixer for alley cropping, fodder banks, living fences, fuelwood and green manure on neutral-to-alkaline, well-drained soils; avoid acid / high-Al / waterlogged sites and frost pockets. Establish from scarified seed; it withstands relentless coppicing (5–15 resprouts/stump) on 6–12-week cycles for years. Two cautions: keep it ≤30% of ruminant diets (mimosine/DHP goitrogen — inoculate with Synergistes jonesii) and manage aggressive self-seeding (a globally recognised invasive).

✂️ Management & Pruning

Withstands almost any type/frequency of pruning or coppicing. Coppiced stumps sprout 5–15 shoots (proportional to cut diameter); 1–4 stems dominate after ~1 year. Tolerates annual pollarding (resprouts and fruits). Forage: cutting interval 6–8 weeks (productive sites) to 12 weeks (poorer sites).

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Fruiting months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of leucaena?

The first harvest of leucaena comes around 12 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for leucaena?

The recommended spacing for leucaena is 3–10 m.

How tall does leucaena grow?

At maturity, leucaena reaches 5–15 m tall.

When does leucaena fruit?

Fruiting of leucaena occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

When does leucaena flower?

Flowering of leucaena occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

What stage and stratum does leucaena occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, leucaena belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the high stratum.

Does leucaena fix nitrogen?

Yes — leucaena is a nitrogen-fixing species that helps fertilize the system's soil.

Functions

🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🌿 Biomass producer Fodder Living fence Windbreak

Propagation

Seed, Cutting

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Sistema de Acumulação , p. 117 (gotsch_stage, biomass_class, nitrogen_fixer)
  2. Leucaena leucocephala — Useful Tropical Plants
  3. Leucaena leucocephala — Useful Tropical Plants (ph_min, ph_max, root_system, root_depth, waterlogging_tolerance, cultivation_notes, synonyms)
  4. Feedipedia — Leucaena leucocephala (pruning_notes, waterlogging_tolerance, cultivation_notes, phenology)
  5. ICRAF AgroforesTree Database — Leucaena leucocephala (spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, pruning_notes, root_system, root_depth, time_to_first_harvest_months)
  6. PFAF — Leucaena leucocephala (hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, ph_min, ph_max)

External references

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