Use
Leucuenu is a tropical plant which belongs to the family
Leguminosae. It is grown widely in Asia, South
America, Australia and parts of Africa for its shade and
forage.
Leucuena is used as a means for forestation. It gets
propagated through seeds or stems and grows very
rapidly to a full grown tree. It is tolerant to a wide variety
of soils.
This plant is cultivated for its value as a nitrogen
supplier. Specific strains of rhizobia fix nitrogen on the
root nodules and prove useful to the soil. The plant is also
used as a source of green manure. Since it propagates
fast, it can be grown on hilly slopes and other relatively
poor soils, where it helps reduce soil erosion.
Leucaena can give yields up to 20 tons of dry matter
per hectare. It is fed to cattle to increase their weight,
especially in their young age. Some people are known to
eat flowers and leaves of this plant.