Agroforestry Systems 55: 195205, 2002.

195
2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.

Wood and biomass production of Leucaena in subtropical Australia

B.F. Mullen* and R.C. Gutteridge

School of Land and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia; *Author for
correspondence (e-mail: b.mullen@mailbox.uq.edu.au; phone: 61 7 3365 3474; fax: 61 7 3365 1188)
Received 9 May 2001; accepted in revised form 28 December 2001

Key words: Fuelwood, Growth index, Leucaena hybrids, Psyllids

Abstract

Although only Leucaena leucocephala is widely used, most members of the Leucaena genus have potential as
multipurpose species for tropical agroforestry systems. To investigate the wood and biomass production potential
of the Leucaena genus, 116 accessions covering the 22 species were evaluated over a two-year period at Bris-
bane, southeast Queensland, Australia. Trees were planted into replicated line plots 5 m long, with rows spaced
3 m apart. Trees were initially planted at 0.5 m spacings within the plots, but were thinned to 1 m spacings prior
to the evaluation period. The hybrid accessions, KX2 (L. pallida L. leucocephala) and KX3 (L. diversifolia
L. leucocephala), were the most productive, yielding over 50 kg dry matter (DM)/tree. L. trichandra OFI53/88
and L. diversifolia CPI33820 were the most productive non-hybrid accessions producing total yields of 41 and
37 kg DM/tree, respectively. Cultivar Tarramba (26 kg DM/tree) was the most productive of the 26 L. leuco-
cephala accessions assessed in the trial but all these accessions suffered from psyllid (Heteropsylla cubana) at-
tack at this site. A series of non-destructive growth measurements was recorded every three months over the
two-year evaluation period. Root collar diameter (RCD), stem number and plant height were found to be the
most useful of the measurements for non-destructive assessment of accession agronomic characteristics. A rela-
tionship between yield and a growth index (calculated as RCD 2 Height/1000), was derived from data from all
accessions and could be used as a reliable predictor of yield (r 2 = 0.94). The widespread use of the F1 hybrid
leucaenas is currently limited by a lack of seed. Technologies to economically produce F1 hybrid seed on a
commercial scale are required before the potential of these accessions in agroforestry systems can be fully real-
ized.

Introduction changes due to increasing concentrations of green-

Global fuelwood utilisation was estimated to be 1911
million m 3/year in 1995 (FAO 1997). Whilst most fu-
elwood usage is sustainable on a regional basis, se-
vere localized deficits are common. These deficits
have serious implications both for the environment,
as natural forests are destroyed to fill the demand, and
for humans, as prices increase and more time is spent
in fuelwood collection (FAO 2000). Agroforestry sys-
tems incorporating multipurpose species such as Leu-
caena have considerable potential to reduce the fuel-
wood deficit (Jensen 1995). In addition, interest in
power generation from renewable, greenhouse-neu-
tral fuels is an increasing priority in view of climate
house gases (Dawson 1997).
The Leucaena genus comprises 22 species of trop-
ical hardwoods from the Americas (Hughes 1998).
Leucaena leucocephala is a well known multipurpose
species, providing livestock fodder, fuelwood, timber,
mulch and human food in agroforestry systems
throughout the tropics. However, other lesser-known
species in the genus may also have potential, particu-
larly with regard to fuelwood (Pottinger et al. 1998)
and timber production (Brewbaker 1995).Alarge germ-
plasm trial was established at Brisbane, Australia, to
evaluate the fuelwood and biomass production poten-
tial of Leucaena.
196
Materials and methods
Site
An experimental site was selected at The University
of Queensland research farm, Redland Bay, Brisbane,
southeast Queensland (2737 S, 15319 E) on a and 2000) to assess progressive growth. The follow-
deep, freely-draining Krasnozem soil (oxisol). The
soil has a pH of 5.9 (1:5 soil:water), a total nitrogen
content of 0.12%, an organic carbon content of 1.7%
and an available phosphorus content of 324 mg/kg
(sodium bicarbonate extract). Based on soil analysis
data, no edaphic limitations to growth of effectively
nodulated Leucaena species were expected.
The Brisbane site experiences a humid-subtropical
coastal climate with a mean annual rainfall of 1300
mm, 70% of which falls between October and March.
Mean maximum monthly temperature in January is
28.5 and mean minimum monthly temperature in
July is 9.5.
Procedure
One hundred and sixteen accessions from 22 species
and two interspecific hybrids of Leucaena were
planted at the site in March 1995. The non-hybrid ac-
cessions were sourced from the Oxford Forestry In-
stitute (OFI), the University of Hawaii (UH) and the
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organization (CSIRO). Artificial hybrid accessions of
L. diversifolia L. leucocephala (designated KX3)
and L. pallida L. leucocephala (designated KX2)
were sourced from UH. The accessions were trans-
planted as six to eight week old seedlings in line plots
5 m long with 50 cm between plants to give 10 plants
per plot. The interrow spacing was 3 m and there
were two replications, with accessions being ran-
domly allocated within the replications. The experi-
ment was contained within two blocks measuring 102
m 70 m in total area.
From 1995 until September 1997 the trees were
subjected to a total of nine harvests at 50 cm height
to determine forage productivity of the accessions.
From October 1997 until October 1998 the plots were
allowed to regrow untouched. A 12-month harvest of
all biomass 10 cm above ground level was taken in
October 1998. The plots were then thinned to five
plants per plot by removing every alternate plant to
give a spacing of 1 m between plants. The plots were
then allowed to regrow for two years until November
2000 when the final harvest was taken. This paper re-
ports the productivity of Leucaena accessions over
the two-year regrowth period from October 1998 to
November 2000.
During the two-year regrowth period a range of
growth parameters was measured at three monthly
intervals (February, May, August and November 1999
ing measurements were taken from the three central
trees in each plot:
Root collar diameter (RCD) (at 0.15 m above
ground level for the four largest stems on each
tree).
Diameter breast height (DBH) (at 1.3 m above
ground level for the four largest stems on each
tree).
Height of the main leader of each tree.
Number of stems for each tree.
An apical dominance rating for each tree (see
below).
A form rating for each tree (see below).
Level of psyllid insect infestation.
Apical dominance was rated from 1 to 5 where 1
was a single stem with strong apical dominance and
5 multi-stemmed with no apparent apical dominance.
The form of each tree was ranked from 1 to 3 where
1 was erect, 2 semi-erect and 3 spreading-prostrate.
Psyllid infestation was ranked from 1 to 9 based on
the scale developed by Wheeler (1988) as follows:
1 = no damage
2 = slight curling of leaves
3 = tips and leaves curling and yellow
4 = tips and leaves badly curled, yellowish and
covered with sap
5 = loss of up to 25% of young leaves
6 = loss of up to 50% of young leaves
7 = loss of up to 70% of young leaves
8 = 100% loss of young leaves and blackening
of lower leaves
9 = blackened stem with total leaf loss
Harvesting
In November 2000 the three central trees in each plot
were harvested at 10 cm above ground level and the
fresh weights of wood, small stem, bark and leaves
(including fine stems to 6 mm diameter), were deter-
mined. The wood fraction comprised the primary
stems (i.e. excluding stems with a diameter of less
than half that of the largest stem for each tree). The
small stem fraction comprised the secondary and ter-
tiary stems arising from primary stems > 6 mm in di-