Leucaena shows potential in Northern Inland New South Wales, Australia

Authors

  • Carol Harris NSW Department of Primary Industries, Glen Innes, NSW, Australia.
  • Suzanne Boschma NSW Department of Primary Industries, Calala, NSW, Australia.
  • Mark Brennan NSW Department of Primary Industries, Calala, NSW, Australia.
  • Lauren Borg Centre for Bioinformatics and Biometrics, National Institute for Applied Statistics Research Australia, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
  • Steven Harden NSW Department of Primary Industries, Calala, NSW, Australia.
  • Brian Cullis Centre for Bioinformatics and Biometrics, National Institute for Applied Statistics Research Australia, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(7)120-126

Abstract

Keynote paper presented at the International Leucaena Conference, 1‒3 November 2018, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

A study was conducted during 2013–2017 to evaluate the potential of 5 cultivars/experimental lines of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) at 2 sites in Northern Inland NSW. In this frost-prone, summer-dominant rainfall region, all cultivars/lines established well and survival was >70% at Bingara and >95% at Manilla. Cultivars Wondergraze and Cunningham were the most productive, producing up to approximately 2.4 t DM/ha y 1.9 t DM/ha per growing season at Bingara and Manilla, respectively. Tropical grass establishment in the alleys was poor with plant productivity inversely related to leucaena productivity. Although this study has confirmed the persistence and productive potential of leucaena, the challenges around tropical grass establishment and persistence as well as the weed potential of leucaena in this region need to be addressed before broad-scale use could be recommended in Northern Inland NSW.

How to Cite

Harris, C., Boschma, S., Brennan, M., Borg, L., Harden, S., & Cullis, B. (2019). Leucaena shows potential in Northern Inland New South Wales, Australia. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales, 7(2), 120–126. https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(7)120-126

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Published

2019-05-31

Issue

Section

ILC2018 Session 2: Establishment and management of leucaena