How to reliably establish leucaena

Leucaena is a perennial forage that can significantly improve productivity and profitability of beef production systems in northern Australia. However leucaena has specific climatic, soil type and management needs for reliable establishment and long term productivity. In this presentation, Stuart Buck (DAF Senior Agronomist) discusses the climate and soil requirements of leucaena together with the recommended practices to prepare, plant and reliably establish leucaena.

You can watch the full recording or use the playlist below to jump to the start of a particular section within the presentation.  43:57; published 12 September 2019 by FutureBeefAu.

Playlist

  1. How to reliably establish Leucaena
  2. What does Leucaena do?
  3. Presentation background
  4. Outline to the presentation – what is being discussed
  5. Climatic needs for Leucaena
  6. Soil needs for Leucaena
  7. 1. Planning for Leucaena
  8. i. Which paddock is best?
  9. ii. What is the starting point?
  10. iii. Row configuration (alignment, spacing)?
  11. iv. When to plant?
  12. v. Which variety is best?
  13. vi. What seeding rate is best?
  14. vii. What method is best?
  15. viii. What machinery do I need?
  16. 2. Preparation for Leucaena
  17. i. Conserve moisture
  18. ii. Seed bed – what is best?
  19. iii. Controlling weeds
  20. 3. Planting Leucaena
  21. i. When to plant Leucaena?
  22. ii. Planter characteristics – what’s best?
  23. iii. Post-plant weed control – what’s best?
  24. iv. Insect control – what’s best?
  25. Summary

Download a copy of the presentation – How to reliably establish leucaena (PDF, 3.04 MB)


Additional leucaena resources

← How to manage leucaena once established – recorded webinar

The Leucaena Network →

Leucaena – code of practice →

Leucaena – a guide to establishment and management (MLA) →