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Background: Leucaena leucocephala is a useful multipurpose tree species for agroforestry systems, but traditional seeded cultivars often become weedy and invasive. A seedless hybrid cultivar, 'KX4-Hawaii', offers a potential solution to this problem. However, relevant agronomic information and information on the performance of 'KX4-Hawaii' under varying growth conditions is required. The goal of this research was to evaluate 'KX4-Hawaii' as a source of agricultural biomass in Barbados, a small island developing state with limited arable land. Methods: 'KX4-Hawaii' air layers were imported into Barbados to create stock trees. Air layering was used to create propagation material and a field study was established with a 'KX4-Hawaii' hedgerow planted as a field border. Three plant spacings (50, 75, and 100 cm) were evaluated and data on the growth and biomass yields of the trees were collected at 4-month intervals. Precipitation data were used to investigate climatic effects on 'KX4-Hawaii' productivity. Results: 'KX4-Hawaii' was successfully propagated via air layers and could be planted directly in the field with irrigation. All recorded growth and biomass yields were correlated with precipitation. However, the woody (lignified stems and branches) biomass was more responsive to precipitation than the green (leaves and green tender stems) biomass and made up a large fraction of the total biomass produced. 'KX4-Hawaii' was productive even under drought conditions and biomass yields per meter of hedgerow increased with closer spacings. Of the tested spacing treatments, 75 cm was optimum for a 4-month pruning interval under the conditions seen in Barbados as it produced similar yields to the 50 cm spacing treatment but would require less propagation material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Una de las alternativas de alimentación bovina que se reviste de importancia ante la variabilidad climática dentro de la planificación forrajera son los pastos de cortes. Desde este contexto el objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar la influencia de dos frecuencias de cortes (45 días y 65 días) en King Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) y Camerún (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum typhoides) en y sin asocio con Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala – Lam de Wit) cultivar Cunningham sobre la disponibilidad y contenido de proteína cruda de la biomasa, en la finca Santa María de la Universidad Internacional Antonio de Valdivieso (UNIAV-Rivas), en el período de mayo 2021 a septiembre 2022. Se utilizó un arreglo factorial completamente al azar, con ocho tratamientos y dos repeticiones, en cada unidad experimental se ubicaron seis sitios de muestreo de un metro lineal cada uno, y se seleccionó al azar una planta para la medición de las variables. Se realizó un análisis de varianza y comparación de medias por diferencias mínimas significativas Fisher al 95 % de confiablidad. King Grass + Leucaena a los 65 días en periodo lluvioso, presentó la mayor altura total, cantidad de nudos, hojas y área foliar, y en periodo seco King Grass + Leucaena a los 45 días registró mayor altura total, diámetro basal y longitud entre el tercer y cuarto nudo. Camerún + Leucaena en ambas épocas a los 65 días, presentó mayor promedio de kg MS ha-1, este mismo resultado lo presenta King Grass en período lluvioso; en periodo seco su disponibilidad de biomasa es similar en y sin asocio. En contenido de proteína cruda, en hojas y tallos de los pastos fue superior en los sitios asociados y con 45 días. Leucaena presentó similar crecimiento en ambos pastos, en la época lluviosa a los 65 días presentó mayor altura total y diámetro de copa, y en periodo seco, aunque prevalece una mayor altura total a los 65 días, en las demás variables fue mayor en los tratamientos a los 45 días. La mayor disponibilidad de biomasa en hojas en ambas épocas se registró con el pasto King Grass a los 45 días y con Camerún en ambas edades de corte, y en tallos tiernos el mayor valor lo presentó con el pasto King Grass a los 65 días, en hojas y tallos tiernos los tratamientos no presentaron diferencias estadísticas.

Background Leucaena leucocephala is a useful multipurpose tree species for agroforestry systems, but traditional seeded cultivars often become weedy and invasive. A seedless hybrid cultivar, ‘KX4-Hawaii’, offers a potential solution to this problem. However, relevant agronomic information and information on the performance of ‘KX4-Hawaii’ under varying growth conditions is required. The goal of this research was to evaluate ‘KX4-Hawaii’ as a source of agricultural biomass in Barbados, a small island developing state with limited arable land. Methods ‘KX4-Hawaii’ air layers were imported into Barbados to create stock trees. Air layering was used to create propagation material and a field study was established with a ‘KX4-Hawaii’ hedgerow planted as a field border. Three plant spacings (50, 75, and 100 cm) were evaluated and data on the growth and biomass yields of the trees were collected at 4-month intervals. Precipitation data were used to investigate climatic effects on ‘KX4-Hawaii’ productivity. Results ‘KX4-Hawaii’ was successfully propagated via air layers and could be planted directly in the field with irrigation. All recorded growth and biomass yields were correlated with precipitation. However, the woody (lignified stems and branches) biomass was more responsive to precipitation than the green (leaves and green tender stems) biomass and made up a large fraction of the total biomass produced. ‘KX4-Hawaii’ was productive even under drought conditions and biomass yields per meter of hedgerow increased with closer spacings. Of the tested spacing treatments, 75 cm was optimum for a 4-month pruning interval under the conditions seen in Barbados as it produced similar yields to the 50 cm spacing treatment but would require less propagation material.

Context. Supplementing a leucaena-based diet with locally available energy sources is an important strategy to extend the use of leucaena, increase liveweight (LW) gain of Bali cattle and increase profit for the smallholder. Aims. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various local energy supplements in leucaena-based diets on the LW gain of Bali cattle and income-over-feed costs (IOFC). Methods. Forty male Bali cattle were divided into five treatment groups (n = 8) and each was fed one of the following diets: (A) control diet, including leucaena ad libitum, with corn stover at 0.5% DM LWand mineral mix, (B) control + cassava meal at 1.0% DM LW, (C) control + cassava peel at 1.0% DM LW, (D) control + cassava peel and corn grain mix at 1.0% DM LW or (E) control + commercial feed at 1.0% DM LW. The experiment was run for 140 days, which included a 20-day adaptation period. Parameters measured included intake, digestibility, imbibed-water intake, LWgain, rumen and faecal parameters, feed conversion and IOFC. Key results. Supplementation of local energy sources in combination with leucaena and corn stover diets increased LW gain of male Bali cattle above that of the control diet (P < 0.05). The bulls receiving the cassava peel and corn mix supplement had the highest LWgain (0.57 ± 0.09 kg/day), which was associated with an increase in digestible organic-matter intake (DOMI). There were no treatment differences (P > 0.05) in the rumen parameters (rumen fluid pH, rumen ammonia-Nconcentration and volatile fatty acids) and all parameters were optimum for rumen digestion. Conclusions. The addition of local energy supplements supplied at 1% of LWimproved growth rate and extended the use of a limited amount of leucaena and provided a higher IOFC. Implications. Replacing approximately 40% of leucaena with energy sources can have three benefits, including an increase in LWgain, an increased capacity of farmers to feed more cattle per hectare and an increased income per cattle being fattened. This can increase the production scale and subsequent farmer income, provided that the energy sources are available at affordable prices and obtainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary growth is the most dynamic developmental aspect during the terrestrialization of plants. The development of secondary xylem tissue composed of thick-walled cells with characteristic changes in its structure and chemistry facilitates the growth and development of woody plants. In the present study, the chemical composition of the secondary xylem of juvenile and mature wood from the branch and main trunk of Leucaena leucocephala, has been investigated and the differences established. The biochemical analysis of different cell wall components in the mature wood of the main trunk revealed high holocellulose and α-cellulose and less lignin content in the juvenile wood while its syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio was less than for the mature wood. As compared to the branch xylem, concentration of cell wall polysaccharides and lignin content was higher in both juvenile and mature wood collected from the main trunk. Thioacidolysis and GC-MS analysis of wood lignin from juvenile and mature wood showed that an increased concentration in lignin content in mature wood is associated with a corresponding increase in S/G ratio. The structural information of the acetylated lignin was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Our results indicate that the mature wood from the main trunk is superior in pulp yielding and lignin degradability as compared to the juvenile wood of the branch and trunk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper feed optimization is vital for the health and growth of goats, with fodder quality being a central factor. This study evaluated the impact of feeding goats guinea grass mixed with various tree legumes on their growth and feed consumption. Nine upgraded goats were used for this research, divided equally among three treatment groups. Each treatment was repeated three times, with one goat per repetition. The experimental treatments included guinea grass paired with Gliricidia (T1), Indigofera (T2), or Ipil-ipil (T3). The results showed that the T2 (Guinea grass + Indigofera tinctoria) combination resulted in the highest feed intake at 29.94kg over five weeks, a finding significant with a p-value of 0.04. Nutrient analysis demonstrated a significant intake of crude protein for T2 with a p-value of 0.038. Moreover, T2 exhibited the most substantial total weight gain (3016.67g) and an average daily gain of 86.19g/day, with p-values of <0.001 and 0.013 respectively. In conclusion, the mix of Guinea grass and Indigofera tinctoria offers the best results in terms of feed intake and goat growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leucaena is a fast-growing tree in the legume family. Its leaf contains a significant amount of protein and is thus widely used as fodder for cattle. To broaden its application in the rubber field, the effects of Leucaena leaf powder and its extracted products on the cure characteristics and mechanical properties of natural rubber were investigated. The extraction of Leucaena leaf was carried out by using a proteolytic enzyme at 60 °C. The digested protein was separated from the residue by centrifugation. Both digested protein and residue were then dried and ground into powder, namely digested protein powder and residual powder, respectively, before being characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, particle size determination, and protein analysis. After being added to natural rubber at 3 parts per hundred rubber, they significantly reduced both the scorch time and the optimum cure time of the rubber compounds, probably due to the presence of nitrogen-containing substances, without a significant sacrifice of the mechanical properties. For instance, the optimum cure time decreased by approximately 25.5, 35.4, and 54.9% for Leucaena leaf powder, residual powder, and digested protein powder, respectively. Thus, they can be used as green and sustainable fillers with a cure-activation effect in rubber compounding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas is the property of Universidad de Santiago de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the effect of Leucaena at different proportions and doses of molasses on the nutritional quality, silage fermentation characteristic, and in vitro digestibility of corn stover silage. Materials and Methods: The study was designed in a completely randomized factorial design 3*3 pattern. The first factor was the proportion addition of Leucaena, i.e., L0 (0%), L15 (15%), L30 (30%), and L45 (45%) of inclusion of Leucaena on the dry matter (DM) basis of corn stover. The second factor was the dose of inclusion of molasses, i.e., M2 (2%), M4 (4%), and M6 (6%) on the fed basis of silage. Each treatment had five replications. The variables observed included chemical composition [DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), hemicellulose, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber], silage fermentation characteristics (pH and NH3-N), DM digestibility (DMD), and OM digestibility (OMD) under in vitro conditions. Results: The result shows that the inclusion of Leucaena in the proportion of 30%–45% is very effective in increasing and improving the chemical composition of corn stover silage, significantly suppresses the content of CF, and increases the CP content of the silage. Likewise, the inclusion of molasses at a dose of 4% also positively contributed to the quality of the resulting silage, especially its effect in suppressing the buffer capacity of proteins resulting in low pH values and NH3-N concentrations in silage. Conclusions: It was concluded that the inclusion of Leucaena in 30%–45% and the inclusion of molasses at a dose of 4% is very effective in increasing and improving the chemical composition, silage fermentability characteristics, and rumen degradation of corn stover silage. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2023; 10(1.000): 118-125]

Context: Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) is a leguminous shrub used for beef grazing in low-rainfall regions (<600–700 mm). Newer cultivars have the potential to extend adoption of the species to higher rainfall (>600–700 mm), frost-free areas of Australia. Aim: We compared productivity, nutritional value and animal performance of two leucaena cultivars, new psyllid-resistant Redlands and the 2010-released Wondergraze, under continuous grazing management in a higher rainfall environment. Methods: Growing steers were allocated to replicated established stands of Wondergraze or Redlands with inter-row mixed grass–legume pasture from January to July 2021. Pasture and leucaena were characterised for biomass and nutritive characteristics. Botanical composition was measured. Liveweight gain, rumen fermentation, and leucaena mimosine breakdown products were measured in grazing steers. Key results: At the beginning of the study, leucaena edible biomass was similar for both cultivars (P > 0.05), but at subsequent samplings, biomass of Redlands was lower than of Wondergraze (P < 0.01). Biomass of both cultivars declined rapidly over the grazing period. Pasture biomass increased between February and July and was significantly higher in Wondergraze paddocks (P < 0.05). Animal performance was not significantly different between cultivar treatments, averaging 0.8 kg/day, but declined over time. Patterns of mimosine conversion to DHP isomers and their conjugation were similar for the two cultivars, suggesting that effectiveness of detoxification did not differ between them. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that leucaena can sustain high levels of animal performance when included in tropical grass pastures in a higher rainfall environment if present in a sufficient quantity (>2 t leucaena edible dry matter/ha established leucaena). Implications: Grazing leucaena–grass pastures is an effective means of increasing animal productivity in parts of subtropical Australia. However, managing grass and/or leucaena growth to match animal requirements can be challenging. Psyllid-resistant leucaena cv. Redlands can produce levels of animal performance equal to those of the more established Wondergraze, achieving liveweight gains of 0.8 kg/day. Differences between Redlands and Wondergraze were small or non-existent, regardless of the parameter being compared, except for mimosine breakdown. High grazing-animal performance relies on a sustained optimum balance between grass and leucaena in the pasture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the effect of Leucaena at different proportions and doses of molasses on the nutritional quality, silage fermentation characteristic, and in vitro digestibility of corn stover silage. Materials and Methods: The study was designed in a completely randomized factorial design 3*3 pattern. The first factor was the proportion addition of Leucaena, i.e., L0 (0%), L15 (15%), L30 (30%), and L45 (45%) of inclusion of Leucaena on the dry matter (DM) basis of corn stover. The second factor was the dose of inclusion of molasses, i.e., M2 (2%), M4 (4%), and M6 (6%) on the fed basis of silage. Each treatment had five replications. The variables observed included chemical composition [DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), hemicellulose, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber], silage fermentation characteristics (pH and NH3-N), DM digestibility (DMD), and OM digestibility (OMD) under in vitro conditions. Results: The result shows that the inclusion of Leucaena in the proportion of 30%-45% is very effective in increasing and improving the chemical composition of corn stover silage, significantly suppresses the content of CF, and increases the CP content of the silage. Likewise, the inclusion of molasses at a dose of 4% also positively contributed to the quality of the resulting silage, especially its effect in suppressing the buffer capacity of proteins resulting in low pH values and NH3-N concentrations in silage. Conclusions: It was concluded that the inclusion of Leucaena in 30%-45% and the inclusion of molasses at a dose of 4% is very effective in increasing and improving the chemical composition, silage fermentability characteristics, and rumen degradation of corn stover silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shade trees may have contrastive effects on Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner) yield, which may be additionally influenced by soil properties and reproductive stages of the plant. The current study is aimed at examining the interaction effects of shade trees, soils with different properties, and reproductive stages on coffee yield and identifying key factors influencing the yield. The current study was conducted in Dakha, Kontum of Vietnam on 133 farms, randomly selected from two soils, and two reproductive stages of coffee plants planted with and without shade trees. The coffee yield was measured, and surface soil samples were taken from these farms to be analyzed for 16 variables. The results showed that shade trees enhanced coffee yield significantly (by 28%) in the young reproductive stage but exhibited an insignificant effect in the old stage. The silt fraction, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and shade trees were key factors determining 52% of the coffee yield in the sandy clay loam soil, while silt content and shade trees determined 23% of the yield in the clay soil. These findings suggest that shade trees, together with some soil properties, should be considered to improve coffee production under a tropical monsoon climate region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alley cropping is a sustainable agriculture approach that improves ecosystem services while also promoting biodiversity. The current study was conducted over two seasons, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, to examine the impact of leucaena–turmeric alley cropping and organic compost addition as agroforestry systems on the growth, yield and characteristics of the turmeric crop. Alley cropping included four treatments: control (turmeric as sole crop), turmeric cultivated between leucaena trees pruned at 1 m height, leucaena trees pruned at 1.5 m height and unpruned leucaena trees. Meanwhile, organic compost rates were control (received recommended NPK) and 17 and 34 m3 ha−1. This study's results showed that growing turmeric in between rows of unpruned leucaena resulted in maximum turmeric plant growth, production and characteristics. Minimum turmeric growth and yield parameters were recorded with plants grown between pruned leucaena at 1 m and those where the turmeric was the sole crop. In addition, compost addition at 34 m3 ha−1 led to maximum growth, yield and attributes of the turmeric crop. Compost addition and alley cropping were shown to be an effective and sustainable agro-ecological system for increasing turmeric output and quality. The study demonstrated the importance of selecting the appropriate crop–tree combination in this system and it was discovered that leguminous leucaena trees significantly contributed to improving fertility and nutrient availability, which in turn improved the growth characteristics of turmeric, particularly the leaf-area index and its nutrient content, which are beneficial to the characteristics of the rhizome yield and curcumin content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of various natural resources as coagulant to treat various types of water and wastewater has seen considerable growth in recent years. The coagulation mechanism of natural coagulant is commonly charge neutralization followed by adsorption during the floc growth. However, due to lack of information, further investigation into the nature of the coagulation mechanism is needed. In this study, the coagulation of Congo red synthetic wastewater using crude leucaena extract was investigated at various initial Congo red concentrations (50–100 mg/L) and coagulation temperatures ranging from 30 to 50 °C. Furthermore, the nature of coagulation was investigated using various adsorption isotherms (the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller models) and kinetic models (pseudo-first, pseudo-second, Elovich, and intraparticle models). It was found that the Congo red concentrations, coagulation temperatures, and their interaction are significant to the dye removal. The sedimentation was well described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model, and the coagulation process followed the Langmuir isotherm. This indicates that the coagulation process involved chemisorption with monolayer formation on the coagulant. Moreover, the thermodynamic study shows that the coagulation was both endothermic and spontaneous. HIGHLIGHTS Crude protein was extracted from Leucaena leucocephala.; The Congo red coagulation followed Langmuir isotherm model.; The settling kinetic followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model.; The coagulation using leucaena crude extract was endothermic and spontaneous nature.;

Secondary growth is the most dynamic developmental aspect during the terrestrialization of plants. The development of secondary xylem tissue composed of thick-walled cells with characteristic changes in its structure and chemistry facilitates the growth and development of woody plants. In the present study, the chemical composition of the secondary xylem of juvenile and mature wood from the branch and main trunk of Leucaena leucocephala, has been investigated and the differences established. The biochemical analysis of different cell wall components in the mature wood of the main trunk revealed high holocellulose and α-cellulose and less lignin content in the juvenile wood while its syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio was less than for the mature wood. As compared to the branch xylem, concentration of cell wall polysaccharides and lignin content was higher in both juvenile and mature wood collected from the main trunk. Thioacidolysis and GC-MS analysis of wood lignin from juvenile and mature wood showed that an increased concentration in lignin content in mature wood is associated with a corresponding increase in S/G ratio. The structural information of the acetylated lignin was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Our results indicate that the mature wood from the main trunk is superior in pulp yielding and lignin degradability as compared to the juvenile wood of the branch and trunk.

This study evaluated the physical quality of complete rabbit feed containing different legumes. The study design was an experimental method using a Completely Randomized Design with four treatments and five replications. The treatments were as follows: P1 =complete feed without legume;P2 = complete feed with 10% moringa leaves meal; P3 = complete feed with 10% Leucaena leaves meal; P4 = complete feed with 10% turi leaves meal. Parameters measured were hardness, durability, density and specific gravity of rabbit pellet complete feed. Data analysis uses analysis of variance and if there is a treatment with a significant effect, then it is continued with Duncan's multiple distance test. The results showed that legumes had no significant effect on impact resistance, friction resistance, pile density, and specific gravity of the rabbit pellets produced. It was concluded that the use of legumes, namely Moringa, lamtoro and turi did not reduce the physical quality of the pellets.

Abstract Background Burning fast-growing trees for energy production can be an effective alternative to coal combustion. Thus, lignocellulosic material, which can be used to obtain chemicals with a high added value, is highly abundant, easily renewed and usually inexpensive. In this work, hemicellulose extraction by acid hydrolysis of plant biomass from three different crops (Chamaecytisus proliferus, Leucaena diversifolia and Paulownia trihybrid) was modelled and the resulting solid residues were used for energy production. Results The influence of the nature of the lignocellulosic raw material and the operating conditions used to extract the hemicellulose fraction on the heat capacity and activation energy of the subsequent combustion process was examined. The heat power and the activation energy of the combustion process were found to depend markedly on the hemicellulose content of the raw material. Thus, a low content in hemicelluloses resulted in a lower increased energy yield after acid hydrolysis stage. The process was also influenced by the operating conditions of the acid hydrolysis treatment, which increased the gross calorific value (GCV) of the solid residue by 0.6–9.7% relative to the starting material. In addition, the activation energy of combustion of the acid hydrolysis residues from Chamaecytisus proliferus (Tagasaste) and Paulownia trihybrid (Paulownia) was considerably lower than that for the starting materials, the difference increasing with increasing degree of conversion as well as with increasing temperature and acid concentration in the acid hydrolysis. The activation energy of combustion of the solid residues from acid hydrolysis of tagasaste and paulownia decreased markedly with increasing degree of conversion, and also with increasing temperature and acid concentration in the acid hydrolysis treatment. No similar trend was observed in Leucaena diversifolia (Leucaena) owing to its low content in hemicelluloses. Conclusions Acid hydrolysis of tagasaste, leucaena and paulownia provided a valorizable liquor containing a large amount of hemicelluloses and a solid residue with an increased heat power amenable to efficient valorization by combustion. There are many potential applications of the hemicelluloses-rich and lignin-rich fraction, for example as multi-components of bio-based feedstocks for 3D printing, for energy and other value-added chemicals.

Leucaena leucocephala (Leucaena) is a leguminous tree widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions due to its strong environmental suitability for abiotic stresses, especially drought. However, the molecular mechanisms and key pathways involved in Leucaena's drought response require further elucidation. Here, we comparatively analyzed the physiological and early transcriptional responses of Leucaena leaves and roots under drought stress simulated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatments. Drought stress induced physiological changes in Leucaena seedlings, including decreases in relative water content (RWC) and increases in relative electrolyte leakage (REL), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline contents as well as antioxidant enzyme activities. In response to drought stress, 6461 and 8295 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the leaves and roots, respectively. In both tissues, the signaling transduction pathway of plant hormones was notably the most enriched. Specifically, abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and signaling related genes (NCED , PP2C , SnRK2 and ABF) were strongly upregulated particularly in leaves. The circadian rhythm, DNA replication, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, and secondary metabolites biosynthesis related pathways were repressed in leaves, while the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis processes were promoted in roots. Furthermore, heterologous overexpression of Leucaena drought-inducible genes (PYL5 , PP2CA , bHLH130 , HSP70 and AUX22D) individually in yeast increased the tolerance to drought and heat stresses. Overall, these results deepen our understanding of the tissue-specific mechanisms of Leucaena in response to drought and provide target genes for future drought-tolerance breeding engineering in crops. [Display omitted] • Drought stress caused physiological changes in Leucaena seedlings. • Roots of Leucaena had a stronger water retention capacity than leaves. • The ABA signaling pathway was strongly activated particularly in Leucaena leaves. • Heterologous overexpression of Leucaena drought-inducible genes enhances yeast drought tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing concentrations of ground-level ozone (O3) exert significant impacts on the plants, but there is limited data for belowground processes. We studied the effects of long-term exposure of elevated O3 (EO3) on plant growth parameters (plant height and biomass) and biochemical parameters (nutrients, microbial biomass and enzymatic activities) of rhizospheric soil of leguminous tree species Leucaena leucocephala. L. leucocephala seedlings were grown under ambient O3 (AO3) and EO3 (+20 ppb above ambient) under Free Air Ozone Concentration Enrichment (O3-FACE) facility and changes in plant growth and their rhizospheric soil properties were studied during 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of EO3 exposure. L. leucocephala showed significant reductions in shoot length, root biomass, shoot biomass, leaf biomass and total biomass during 12, 18 and 24 months of exposure to EO3. Total nutrients in rhizospheric soil like carbon and phosphorus were significantly reduced after 24 months of EO3 exposure. Most of the available nutrients showed significant reduction after 6, 12 and 24 months of EO3 exposure. A significant decrease was apparent in microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of EO3 treatment. Significant reductions were observed in extracellular enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, β-glycosidase, fluorescein diacetate, arylsulfatase, cellulase and protease) of soil after 6, 12 and 24 months of EO3 exposure. These results suggest that increasing O3 concentrations will directly impact L. leucocephala growth as well as have indirect impact on the nutrient contents (C, N, and P), microbial biomass and extracellular enzymatic activities of rhizospheric soil of L. leucocephala. Our results suggest that continuous increase in O3 concentrations will have serious implications for aboveground plant growth and belowground soil fertility in this region considered as O3 hotspot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the feasibility of using the seeds of the Leucaena leucocephala in the preparation of activated carbon in view of the advantages that the plant can provide in terms of abundance, low cost and product quality. Activated carbon was prepared using Leucaena seeds and activated by H3PO4 chemical activation process using H3PO4: char ratios (w/w) of (1:1), (1:2) and (1:3) at (400°C). Surface properties were determined using FT-IR and FE-SEM techniques. Cadmium and PNP, PPD dyes were chosen as the prominent chemical pollutants to study the ability of the prepared carbon to adsorb them. The adsorption process was controlled and the factors affecting it were studied, which are: Mass of the adsorbent, Temperature, pH, Contact time, Initial concentration of the adsorbed material. It was found that the adsorption capacity increases with decreasing temperature for cadmium and dyes. The optimum PH value was between (pH=6, pH=5) for the mentioned adsorbents, Recorded (180 hours) as the best contact time. Positive value of ΔH (J\mole) indicate that the reaction is exothermic, negative value of ΔS (J\mole.K) indicate that the reaction is spontaneous and negative value of ΔG (J\mole) indicate that the reaction occurs spontaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the estimation of genetic diversity and population structure, 23 accessions of Leucaena leucocephala were characterized using morphological and molecular markers. A medium to high degree of genetic variability was calculated among these accessions based on eight quantitative traits. Furthermore, a cluster analysis based on morphological characteristics grouped the 23 Leucaena accessions into five groups based on their similarities. Furthermore, the principal component analysis revealed that eight quantitative traits contributed for 82.57% of the total variability. Eleven simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers showed a high degree of polymorphism among the 23 L. leucocephala accessions. The polymorphic information contents (PIC) for these 11 markers were estimated and revealed that SSR723 had higher PIC value (0.90). Also, the dendrogram generated based on 11 markers distinctively demarcated most of the L. leucocephala accessions into different clusters indicating its vast genetic diversity in the population. A population structure study of these 23 L. leucocephala accessions showed the existence of two gene pools. Also, analysis of molecular variance showed that there was 13% variability between populations, while there was 87% variability within the population. The first and second coordinates of principal coordinate analysis unconditionally distributed these accessions into four coordinates based on their similarity. Overall, the high degree of genetic variability described by morphological and molecular markers in L. leucocephala can be used as a basic tool for assessing genetic diversity and linkage mapping in Leucaena genetic improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Grasslands / Forrajes Tropicales is the property of International Centre for Tropical Agriculture - CIAT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia nilotica are two arboreal legumes with several uses in agriculture, nutritious forage and livelihoods, fence posts, wood production, biofuel production, charcoal, firewood, shading, hedges, windbreaks, and improvement of soil fertility. The seed dormancy is common in Leucaena and Acacia species, and it creates difficulties in seed testing and planting. The aim of this study is to determine the effective methods of sulfuric acid and hot water due to overcoming dormancy in seeds of those species. Most pretreatments significantly (p

Alley cropping is a sustainable agriculture approach that improves ecosystem services while also promoting biodiversity. The current study was conducted over two seasons, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, to examine the impact of leucaena–turmeric alley cropping and organic compost addition as agroforestry systems on the growth, yield and characteristics of the turmeric crop. Alley cropping included four treatments: control (turmeric as sole crop), turmeric cultivated between leucaena trees pruned at 1 m height, leucaena trees pruned at 1.5 m height and unpruned leucaena trees. Meanwhile, organic compost rates were control (received recommended NPK) and 17 and 34 m3 ha−1. This study’s results showed that growing turmeric in between rows of unpruned leucaena resulted in maximum turmeric plant growth, production and characteristics. Minimum turmeric growth and yield parameters were recorded with plants grown between pruned leucaena at 1 m and those where the turmeric was the sole crop. In addition, compost addition at 34 m3 ha−1 led to maximum growth, yield and attributes of the turmeric crop. Compost addition and alley cropping were shown to be an effective and sustainable agro-ecological system for increasing turmeric output and quality. The study demonstrated the importance of selecting the appropriate crop–tree combination in this system and it was discovered that leguminous leucaena trees significantly contributed to improving fertility and nutrient availability, which in turn improved the growth characteristics of turmeric, particularly the leaf-area index and its nutrient content, which are beneficial to the characteristics of the rhizome yield and curcumin content.

Scarcity of freshwater resources for agricultural purposes is a crucial problem in arid and semi-arid regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Moringa seed powder on wastewater quality parameters and examine the responses of Leucaena leucocephala seedlings irrigated with Moringa-treated wastewater. Moringa seed powder was used for different wastewater types (gray, primary-, and tertiary-treated wastewater). Wastewaters were treated with Moringa seed powder using the following concentrations: 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 g/L. The analyses of wastewaters before and after treatment with Moringa seed powder were conducted, and its impact on seed germination and seedling growth of Leucaena leucocephala was investigated using Moringa-treated wastewater. Our results revealed that Moringa seed powder decreased pH and increased electrical conductivity, phosphate, nitrate, and ionic abundance of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium in the treated wastewater as Moringa seed powder concentration increases. Both germination rate index and percentages were not significantly different for treated wastewater as compared to control. However, the treatment showed the highest percentage at 0.8 g (95%) using M. oleifera compared to 0.2 g (86.3%) with M. peregrina. On the other hand, seedling characteristics of Leucaena leucocephala improved for both treatments. Shoot heights and root lengths were the highest at concentrations 0.2 g (10.48 and 7.28 cm, respectively) and 0.8 g (10.51 and 7.22 cm, respectively) for both M. peregrina and M. oleifera. Finally, Moringa seed powder improved the plant productivity using M. oleifera, while slight decline in plant height with M. peregrine was shown compared to control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shade trees may have contrastive effects on Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner) yield, which may be additionally influenced by soil properties and reproductive stages of the plant. The current study is aimed at examining the interaction effects of shade trees, soils with different properties, and reproductive stages on coffee yield and identifying key factors influencing the yield. The current study was conducted in Dakha, Kontum of Vietnam on 133 farms, randomly selected from two soils, and two reproductive stages of coffee plants planted with and without shade trees. The coffee yield was measured, and surface soil samples were taken from these farms to be analyzed for 16 variables. The results showed that shade trees enhanced coffee yield significantly (by 28%) in the young reproductive stage but exhibited an insignificant effect in the old stage. The silt fraction, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and shade trees were key factors determining 52% of the coffee yield in the sandy clay loam soil, while silt content and shade trees determined 23% of the yield in the clay soil. These findings suggest that shade trees, together with some soil properties, should be considered to improve coffee production under a tropical monsoon climate region.

Se realizó un estudio para evaluar la composición botánica y calidad de la dieta seleccionada para bovinos pastoreando un sistema silvopastoril intensivo (50,000 árboles ha -1 ) de Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) asociado con Chontalpo (Brachiaria decumbens) y Estrella africana (Cynodon plectostachyus) (T1), en compara- ción al sistema de solamente gramíneas (T2). Se utilizaron ocho becerros en crecimiento de raza Jersey en cada tratamiento. La composición botánica se conoció a través de la técnica de micriohistología en heces, mientras que la calidad de la dieta fue a través de la estimación de proteína cruda (PC), cenizas (Ce) y materia orgánica (MO), y fibra detergente neutro (FDN) y fibra detergente ácido (FDA). Los datos se analizaron mediante un modelo com- pletamente al azar y la comparación de medias se realizó a través de la prueba de Tukey. El T1 presentó un consumo de 68.41% de la gramínea y 31.59% de la arbórea y para el T2 la dieta contenía 100% de la gramínea. Respecto a la calidad de la dieta seleccionada, se encon-traron diferencias estadísticas (P

During the flowering seasons the speeies varied greatly and the seasons were seldom repeated (August-Oetober) with only three speeies and two speeies (April-June), whieh means that they eontinued throughout the months of the year. Three eolours of the flower were observed in total with gradient within these three eolours distributed to the studied speeies. In terms of the eolour of the peel, two eolours were distinguished only in favour of the brown-gray eolour, while the forms of eraeks on the outer peel surfaee were divided into three forms. On the other hand, eaeh type was independent when examining the eolour of the inner peel. The shape of the eross seetion of the braneh exeeeded 81.8% for the eireular shape on the angular shape, while two types of braneh thiekness were reeorded and exaetly the same for texture. It was possible to observe two forms of branehing of the flower-bearing branehes, whieh were very similar to those of the two forms (non-branehing and branehing) with a large differenee between the two forms of the flower's apex, at a rate of 20 times the round shape and 90.9% of the shape of the flower. Two flowers shoots growing types were observed named (Auxotelie and an Anauxotelie). Three main eolours, white, yellow and pink were distinguished and the flower head diameter varied widely between (6.5-30 mm). Flowers season seems to be in all of the year. Outer peel thiekness also varied from thiek to thin to intermediate. Three forms of peel fissures were found and 54.5% to mid-brown eolour. Inner peel eolour ean be a good item to be a key of elassifieation of this tree. Correlation eoeffieient between peel thiekness and outer peel eolour was 0.935. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Burning fast-growing trees for energy production can be an effective alternative to coal combustion. Thus, lignocellulosic material, which can be used to obtain chemicals with a high added value, is highly abundant, easily renewed and usually inexpensive. In this work, hemicellulose extraction by acid hydrolysis of plant biomass from three different crops (Chamaecytisus proliferus, Leucaena diversifolia and Paulownia trihybrid) was modelled and the resulting solid residues were used for energy production. Results: The influence of the nature of the lignocellulosic raw material and the operating conditions used to extract the hemicellulose fraction on the heat capacity and activation energy of the subsequent combustion process was examined. The heat power and the activation energy of the combustion process were found to depend markedly on the hemicellulose content of the raw material. Thus, a low content in hemicelluloses resulted in a lower increased energy yield after acid hydrolysis stage. The process was also influenced by the operating conditions of the acid hydrolysis treatment, which increased the gross calorific value (GCV) of the solid residue by 0.6–9.7% relative to the starting material. In addition, the activation energy of combustion of the acid hydrolysis residues from Chamaecytisus proliferus (Tagasaste) and Paulownia trihybrid (Paulownia) was considerably lower than that for the starting materials, the difference increasing with increasing degree of conversion as well as with increasing temperature and acid concentration in the acid hydrolysis. The activation energy of combustion of the solid residues from acid hydrolysis of tagasaste and paulownia decreased markedly with increasing degree of conversion, and also with increasing temperature and acid concentration in the acid hydrolysis treatment. No similar trend was observed in Leucaena diversifolia (Leucaena) owing to its low content in hemicelluloses. Conclusions: Acid hydrolysis of tagasaste, leucaena and paulownia provided a valorizable liquor containing a large amount of hemicelluloses and a solid residue with an increased heat power amenable to efficient valorization by combustion. There are many potential applications of the hemicelluloses-rich and lignin-rich fraction, for example as multi-components of bio-based feedstocks for 3D printing, for energy and other value-added chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the 2.78-Mb circular genome sequence of Pyramidobacter sp. strain YE332, isolated from a fermentation of bovine rumen fluid, supplied with leaf material from Leucaena leucocephala cv. Cunningham. This genome sequence consists of 2,795,328 bp with 60% G + C content, 2,573 predicted coding DNA sequences, and 70 RNAs., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Buffaloes use wallowing behavior to release excess heat in tropical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of silvopastoral systems in the feeding and thermoregulatory behavior of water buffaloes under moderate and intense heat stress. The behavior of water buffaloes was evaluated in two different production systems. The conventional system with Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) only, and the silvopastoral system with Guinea grass and Leucaena leucocephala trees. The relation between the frequency of animal activities and the length of time the animals engaged in each activity was measured during the day time (6:00–18:00 h) by visual observations at 10-min intervals. The results obtained suggest that buffaloes use tree shade to partially supplement wallowing. Feeding behavior increased under intense heat stress in the silvopastoral system indicating that it can be a promising alternative to improve the buffaloes rearing conditions in the tropics.

A case study was conducted to characterize indicators of the slaughter, yield and fractionation of bull carcasses from silvopasture, 100% of the area associated with Leucaena leucocephala, and star grass (Cynodon nlemfuencis). 48 bulls were used, in 4 grazing lots or case studies, the same number of animals per lot and 2 animals/ha. Case 1: 5/8 Holstein x 3/8 Zebu, in the rainy season, with 70 g of minerals/animal/day. Case 2: Zebu, in the dry season, with the same amount of the previous mineral supplement. Case 3: Zebu, in the dry season, supplemented with 1.50 kg/animal/day of rumen fermentation activator (11% CP and ME of 8 MJ/kg DM). Case 4: Charolais de Cuba, in the rainy season, with 2 kg/animal/day of a grain-based supplement (12% crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) of 10 MJ/kg of dry matter (DM)). The animals were kept in fast for 24 hours before slaughter, to take the post-roughing live weight. Slaughter indicators; digestive filling; carcasses performance; meat; bones; cover fat and cuts of higher commercial value from the leg region were determined. Regarding the live weight post-roughing, by s case study from 1-4; the empty digestive system predominated among the indicators of slaughter (17.00, 9.51, 9.71 and 8.09%), followed by contents of the digestive system (10.27, 14.13, 12.92 y 9.58%) and the skin (7.71, 10.09, 9.05 and 8.72%). From cases 1-4, the performance of cold carcass was 54.01, 54.48, 52.35 and 56.16%; regarding the cold carcass, the meat production was 65.04, 76.27, 75.15 and 68.75%, body fat of 8.28, 8.60, 9.17 and 7.23%; and in the contribution of the cuts with the highest commercial value of the hindquarters, the inside round (2.27, 2.42, 2.25 and 2.64%) and the leg tip (2.23, 2.44; 2.24 and 2.54%) stood out. With this study it was demonstrated that the digestive system was the most relevant indicator in slaughter; that the carcasses were low in fat, inside round and leg tip was the most representative in the posterior region and the highest yield of 56.16% with Charolais de Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaves of Mulberry (Morus alba Lam.), Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala Lam de wit.) and Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) were evaluated as dry season protein supplements for grazing animals based on chemical composition, in vitro and in sacco nutrient digestibility and a Rabbit feeding trial. All tree fodder forages had similar dry matter (DM) content, but crude protein was higher in Moringa (28.6%) followed by Leucaena (24.5%), Mulberry (24.1%) and Lucerne (18.0%). Ash content was highest in Mulberry followed by Moringa and Lucerne with Leucaena having lowest amounts. Polyphenols ranged from 2.72 to 3.64%, with Leucaena having highest and Mulberry lowest amounts. Dietary fibre were highest in Mulberry and Moringa, but there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) between Leucaena and Lucerne. In vitro gas production and DM disappearances were higher in Moringa followed by Mulberry and Lucerne with Leucaena having lowest amounts. Except for Leucaena, DM disappearances were increased when rumen fluid from dairy cattle steers was used. In sacco DM disappearances were 33.7% for Leucaena, 78.2% for Lucerne, 50.2% for Moringa and 50.7% for Mulberry. In vitro and in sacco crude fibre and neutral detergent fibre disappearances were relatively lower, but reflected DM disappearances. The Rabbit feeding trial showed diets based on Moringa, Leucaena and combined fodder forages to have significantly better performance than Mulberry and grass hay alone. The conclusion was that tested tree fodder forages have potential of being used as dry season protein supplements for grazing animals on traditional smallholder farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplementations of Leucaena leucocephala or Gliricidia sepium by goats fed old Panicum maximum basal diets on their dry matter and nutrient intake, digestibility, and N balance. The experiment used four goats weighing of around 12 kg fed four kinds of diet in Latin square design. The diets were 1 young guinea grass, 2 old guinea grass, 3 old guinea grass 60% + Leucaena 40%, 4 old guinea grass 60% + Gliricidia 40%. Results of the study revealed that dry matter and crude protein intake, dry matter, crude protein, and NDF digestibility were significantly higher when the goats fed young grass, Leucaena- or Gliricidia-supplemented old guinea grass than goats fed old guinea grass only. N retained as proportion of ingested N by the goats fed young guinea grass, and old guinea grass supplemented with Leucaena or Gliricidia were positive (63.95, 68.85, and 67.88%, respectively), while the goats fed old guinea grass was negative (− 55.49%). Intake of young grass resulted in greater N excreted via urine while supplementation with Leucaena or Gliricidia resulted in greater N excreted via feces. It can be concluded that supplementation of Leucaena or Gliricidia is very beneficial to increase dry matter and nutrients intake, digestibility, and N retention in goats fed Panicum maximum basal diets. An important finding of this work is that young forage consumed by goats allows to reach important performances and that supplementation is not essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Iron deficiency conditions as well as iron supplied as a Fe(III)–mimosine complex induced a number of strategy I and strategy II genes for iron uptake in leucaena. Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) is a tree-legume that can grow in alkaline soils, where metal-cofactors like Fe(III) are sparingly available. Mimosine, a known chelator of Fe(III), may facilitate Fe(III) uptake in leucaena by serving as a phytosiderophore. To test if mimosine can serve as a phytosiderophore, three sets of experiments were carried out. First, the binding properties and solubility of metal–mimosine complexes were assessed through spectrophotometry. Second, to study mimosine uptake in plants, pole bean, common bean, and tomato plants were supplied with mimosine alone and metal–mimosine complexes. Third, the expression of strategy I (S1) and strategy II (S2) genes for iron uptake from the soil was studied in leucaena plants exposed to different Fe(III) complexes. The results of this study show that (i) mimosine has high binding affinity for metallic cations at alkaline pH, Fe(III)–mimosine complexes are water soluble at alkaline pH, and that mimosine can bind soil iron under alkaline pH; (ii) pole bean, common bean, and tomato plants can uptake mimosine and transport it throughout the plant; and (iii) a number of S1 and S2 genes were upregulated in leucaena under iron-deficiency condition or when Fe(III) was supplied as a Fe(III)–mimosine complex. These findings suggest that leucaena may utilize both S1 and S2 strategies for iron uptake; and mimosine may play an important role in both strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential impact of the soil seed bank of a given species and subsequent population persistence will depend on the robustness of the seeds against depletion. Invasiveness is frequently linked to this behavior and successful control of invasive species depends on reducing the size of their seed banks. We propose a hybrid model that simulates the seed bank dynamics in association with their physical dormancy (PD) based on experimental data on seed bank depletion of a Leucaena leucocephala population during the dispersal phase. The hybrid model uses cellular automata (CA) and Monte Carlo techniques. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the model delivers reproducible and reliable results. Then, we discuss the ability of the hybrid model to predict the effect of seasonal climate change. A 2.0 °C increase in temperature was enough to cause a considerable impact in the seed depletion curve, and after 1 year, ~ 75% of the seeds had already disappeared from the seed bank. The proposed hybrid CA model can be used to study soil-stored seed banks with physical dormancy, and could be applied to other Fabaceae species with similar seed traits. We believe that this computational model contributes to a better understanding of seed bank dynamics and will aid in the control of invasive species and for testing different scenarios to reduce or eliminate seed banks that have already been formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of forage species and feeding systems on ruminal fermentation, microbiota (Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens , Fibrobacter succinogenes and total bacteria) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentration of milk in dairy goats. Twenty female crossbred Saanen lactating goats (~35 ± 3.0 kg bodyweight) in early to mid-lactation stage were assigned to a 45-day completely randomised-design feeding experiment, with the following four forage (roughage) treatments: cut-and-carry grass (CG), grazing of grass (GG), cut-and-carry leucaena (CL) and grazing of leucaena (GL; n = 5). All animals were given concentrate equivalent to 1.5% of their bodyweight. The grass used in the study was napier Pak Chong 1 grass (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum americanum hybrid). The results showed that irrespective of the type of forage, grazing goats (GG and GL) had a higher (P < 0.05) forage intake and, thus, total dry-matter and crude-protein intakes than did those fed indoors (CG and CL). However, the intake of C18:2n6 and particularly of C18:3n3 was generally higher for grass-fed goats than for leucaena-fed goats. Treatments did not exert significant differences on rumen fermentation characteristics. However, the populations of B. fibrisolvens , F. succinogenes and total bacteria were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in grazing goats (GG and GL) than in their counterparts fed with the cut-and-carry system (CG and CL). Goats in the grazing system also had a higher (P < 0.05) milk yield, and milk fat, c9, t11 CLA and omega-3 fatty acid concentrations than did those in the cut-and-carry system and only grazing goats produced detectable levels of t10, c12 CLA in milk. Putting the above together, it can be concluded that allowing dairy goats to outdoor grazing stimulates a higher forage intake, including that of C18:2n6 and C18:3n3, as well as enhancing population of B. fibrisolvens (involved in the synthesis of milk CLA), resulting in a higher milk yield, and enhances c9, t11 and t10, c12 CLA in goat milk. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) provides various health advantages. The present study showed that tropical forage species and grazing system have the potential to improve forage intake and CLA content in dairy goat's milk, therefore providing useful information for dairy-goat farmers in tropical and subtropical countries to transform from an indoor-fed to grazing system to achieve better results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of temperature and holding times on the torrefaction of Leucaena Leucocephala (Leucaena) were elucidated via a novel isothermal decomposition approach. The torrefaction was performed in a fixed-bed reactor at temperature ranged from 200 to 300 °C for 20, 40 and 60 min. The effects of both torrefaction temperature and holding time were studied quantitatively and qualitatively by evaluating the distribution product yields and surface morphological changes. Quantitatively, the mass yield decreased with increasing temperature for all tested holding times, while the liquid and gas yields increased steadily due to the release of volatiles from the biomass decomposition. Qualitatively, significant morphological changes on Leucaena due to torrefaction were evidently captured via SEM imaging analysis. For torrefaction temperatures from 200 to 260 °C, the raw and torrefied Leucaena showed that pore evolution process had become evident. However, for torrefaction temperatures from 280 to 300 °C, the torrefied Leucaena revealed that the internal structure of torrefied Leucaena underwent pore development process. The pore development was noticeably observed for all temperatures. The values of activation energy (Ea) and pre-exponential factor (ln A) for the torrefaction were calculated based on the Coats–Redfern method for first order reaction. The values of Ea and ln A for 20, 40 and 60 min were found to be 39.75, 40.10 and 42.31 kJ/mol, and 3.92, 4.14 and 4.67. As a conclusion, the torrefaction of Leucaena from 200 to 300 °C for 20 min holding time is more reactive as compared to that at higher holding time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar, or pyrolyzed organic matter intended for use as a soil amendment, has a variety of properties of interest from the perspective of agroforestry, in particular its potential to increase soil C sequestration and enhance yields by increased retention of soil mineral nutrients. Nitrogen-fixing legumes commonly show large growth responses to biochar, and we hypothesized that combinations of legumes and non-legumes would show increased enhancement of yields in mixture due to enhanced facilitation related to increased nutrient retention. This hypothesis was tested in a glasshouse pot trial involving the leguminous tree leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), and maize (Zea mays) grown for 120 days in mixture and monoculture in both an unamended soil and soil amended with a slow-pyrolysis coconut husk biochar at 10 t/ha. Responses were quantified in terms of biomass production and partitioning, leaf-level gas-exchange, leaf chlorophyll content, and (for leucaena) root nodule formation. Consistent with predictions, leucaena showed more pronounced growth and physiological responses to biochar than did maize. The system also showed increased total biomass yields relative to monocultures in the two-species mixtures with biochar (relative yield in mixture [RYM] = 1.69; 95% CI 1.41–1.81), but not in the control treatment (RYM = 1.25; 95% CI 0.93–1.76), and positive effects of biochar on yield were generally greater for both species when grown in mixture. Growth responses to biochar were most pronounced for stem and root biomass, and growth responses were consistent with changes in leaf-level photosynthesis and chlorophyll content. In addition, biochar had large effects on biomass partitioning, enhancing stem allocation in both species. Our results suggest that biochar additions may augment facilitative interactions in agroforestry and intercropped systems on acidic, nutrient-deficient soils by enhancing system nutrient retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agro Productividad is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Beef producers have to determine the best allocation of a limited resource of high-quality forage. This analysis assessed the most profitable way of incorporating high-quality forages into the whole-of-life steer growth path on forage systems in central Queensland, using property-level, regionally relevant herd models that determine whole-of-business productivity and profitability over a 30-year investment period. Twenty-two growth paths (liveweight change over time) from weaning to marketing were investigated for steers grazing buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) pastures with and without access to leucaena–grass pastures (Leucaena leucocephala spp. glabrata + perennial, tropical grass (C4) species) or forage oats (Avena sativa) for varying intervals throughout their growth path. The production, economic and financial effect of each growth path was assessed by comparison to a base scenario that produced finished, slaughter steers (605 kg) from buffel grass pastures. The relative profitability of marketing steers at feedlot entry (feed-on) weight (474 kg) instead of slaughter weights was also assessed. The growth paths were applied within two beef enterprises, namely (1) steer turnover and (2) breeding and finishing. For both enterprises, grazing steers on leucaena-grass pastures from weaning until they achieved feedlot entry weight (474 kg) was substantially more profitable than any other growth path. Compared with the base scenario, this optimal growth path improved profitability by 121% and 37% for the steer turnover and the breeding and finishing enterprises respectively. The purchase of additional breeders for the latter enterprise was required to optimise utilisation of the leucaena–grass pastures immediately. Incorporating leucaena–grass pastures at any steer age improved the profitability of the steer turnover enterprise (AU$7368–AU$106 508 extra profit/annum), and similarly for the breeding and finishing enterprise (AU$1754–AU$31 383 extra profit/annum) except for two scenarios where leucaena–grass pastures were provided to older steers targeted at the feed-on market (AU$4816 and AU$23 886 less profit/annum). However, incorporation of leucaena–grass into steer growth paths also resulted in increased peak deficit levels and financial risk to the business compared with buffel grass-only production systems, with payback periods for the most profitable growth path of 8 and 14 years for the steer turnover and the breeding and finishing enterprise respectively. All growth paths that incorporated forage oats and leucaena–grass resulted in lower economic and financial performance than did comparable growth paths that incorporated leucaena–grass only. Furthermore, incorporating oats into buffel grass-only growth paths always reduced the enterprise profitability. There was no relationship, across scenarios within an enterprise, between change in profit and the number of extra weaners produced or the amount of extra beef produced per hectare. This study assessed the most profitable ways to incorporate high-quality forages (oats and leucaena) into whole-of-life growth paths of steers otherwise grazing buffel grass pastures in central Queensland. For both a steer turnover enterprise and a breeding and finishing enterprise the strategy of grazing steers on leucaena-grass pastures from weaning until they achieved feedlot entry weight was substantially more profitable than any of the other 21 growth paths. Incorporation of forage oats into a buffel grass growth path always reduced the profitability of beef cattle enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus caused erratic and limited damage to leucaena seeds. • Damage was moderately but negatively correlated with seed availability. • Parasitism was not correlated with seed beetle infestation. • The beetles are unable to track their seed resources, hampering biocontrol. Introduced from Central America for agroforestry, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit (Fabaceae) has become invasive in several tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The seed beetle Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Schaeffer) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) was released in South Africa in 1999 to curb the plant's high seed production. Monthly sampling was conducted during 2011/2012 at four sites in KwaZulu-Natal Province to determine the reproductive phenology of L. leucocephala populations, the levels of seed damage inflicted by A. macrophthalmus , and the extent to which the beetle has recruited native parasitoids. There were typically two podding cycles annually, with variations in peak pod production between sites and periods of very low seed availability. The levels of pre-dispersal seed damage on canopy-held pods were erratic, fluctuating greatly between months and sites, and seldom exceeding 50%. Levels of post-dispersal damage on soil-surface seeds were substantially lower, seldom exceeding 5%. Parasitism of the larval/pupal stages of A. macrophthalmus also varied between months and sites, reaching a maximum of 45%. There was a moderate but significant negative correlation between percentage seed damage and seed availability, indicating higher damage during periods of seed scarcity. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between percentage parasitism and seed infestation by A. macrophthalmus. These trends suggest that neither A. macrophthalmus nor its recruited parasitoids are tracking resource availability, ensuring a negligible impact on seedling recruitment. Additional seed-reducing agents, particularly insects that exploit green pods, are required to regulate L. leucocephala populations in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]