Prediction of production potential of leucaena for energy and animal nutrition.

摘要

A Leucaena leucocephala plantation in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India, was investigated to assess the production of biomass, leaf and wood per hectare. Potential for production of leaf meal and charcoal/charcoal briquettes out of leucaena plants was determined. Relationships between leaf, wood and biomass yield with collar diameter were established. The results showed that population of leucaena plants in the field was 132 000 per hectare and out of this population 30 000 plants/ha had collar diameter above 2.5 cm which could be harvested and utilized for leaf meal and energy production. Mean diameter of these plants was 3.25 cm. Power relationships were established to predict the biomass yield of leucaena plants from their base diameter. From these regression relationships for leaf mass and wood mass it may be clear that the leaf mass production from leucaena plants in October (onset of winter) was higher than in April (onset of summer), whereas, there was not much difference in the production of wood mass. Therefore, harvesting of leucaena plants may be recommended in October for higher yield of leaf mass and production of feed pellets. It was estimated that production of charcoal was 24% of fresh leucaena wood, whereas it was about one third of air dried leucaena wood and 40% of oven dried wood. Thus the estimated charcoal production from one hectare leucaena field was 11.425 t/ha per year valued at Rs. 114 250/ha per year..