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Effect of Pruning Height on Shoot Biomass Yield of Leucaena Leucocephala

S.U. Tipu
Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

K.L. Hossain
Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

M.O. Islam
Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

M.A. Hossain
Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An investigation on the effect of pruning height on shoot biomass yield of Leucaena leucocephala (ipil-ipil) was carried out at the Agroforestry Farm, Bangladesh Agricultural University, during February to May 2005. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replications. Treatments included four pruning heights; 3-5 (basal cut), 50, 100 and 150 cm above the collar zone. Yield of shoot biomass increased greatly with the increase in pruning heights. Higher pruning heights had a significantly higher number of branches, length of branches and leaves per plant than those of the lower heights. The 150 cm pruning height was found to yield the highest biomass followed by the 100 cm height. The 50 cm and the basal cut were statistically similar with regard to leaf biomass. Therefore, it was concluded that a higher pruning height should be practiced in Leucaena for higher shoot biomass yield.

Keywords: Agroforestry systems, ipil-ipil, Biomass production, Pruning height, Shoot growth

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-02-2005

End Date: 00-05-2005

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Ipil-ipil

Objectives:

To determine suitable pruning heights of ipil-ipil for production of maximum tender tree forage.

Methodology:

In this study, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. was used as planting materials. It belongs to the family Leguminosae (sub. family: Mimosoideae) and locally termed as ipil-ipil, subabul, ku-babul, white babool, kaniti, vilayati baral etc.. Approximately 2 year old saplings that were grown for various studies along the experimental plots as live fence were used for this study. Stems were beheaded and pruned off to get required length of cleared stocks and to be termed as pruning height. In all cases, materials with equal diameter were selected. The experiment was conducted in the Agroforestry Farm situated in the central area of Agricultural Farm, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), during February to May, 2005. The experimental area was located in AEZ-9 at 24° 75' N latitude and 90°50' E longitude at a height of 18 m above the sea level. The experimental area was under tropical monsoon climate where rainfall is heavy. Humidity and temperature was also high during April to September. Low rainfall associated with low temperature prevails during October to March. The pre-monsoon hot season occurs from March to April with the highest temperature record of 38°C. Occasional thunder shower contribute to about 8% of rainfall received during the time. The monthly mean relative humidity ranges from 74-87% based on dry and wet season. The soil belongs to the Agro-ecological zone of Old Brahmaputra Floodplain. The soil of the experimental area was of alluvial deposits. Two types of soil, calcareous grey flood plain and non-calcareous alluvial soils are found where non-calcareous grey flood plain soil occupies the major portion of the BAU campus. The soil was fertile and loamy to silt loam in texture, pH ranging from 6.3 to 7.2.Initial land preparation was not necessary in this study as previously grown ipil-ipil stocks were used. Shallow spading on both sides of living fences was done. The grasses and roughages were removed. After pruning and beheading the stems, the stool beds were made pulverized. In order to get proper shoot growth cowdung at the rate of 1500 kg ha^-1 mixed with soil was used as a basal dose. Urea at the rate of 200 kg ha^-1 was applied as side dressing at mid stage of the study. The beheading and pruning off the previously grown stems were done to obtain the required pruning heights in the stool beds. Hence the treatments were as follows i.e., the stock beheaded at: • 3-5 cm above collar zone ( basal cut) • 50 cm above collar zone • 100 cm above collar zone • 150 cm above collar zone. All the developing branches, older branches and leaves were removed from these stock materials to facilitate data collection only from regenerated shoot parts. All the pruning and beheading operations for preparation of stock materials with different pruning heights as stated above were done on February 23, 2005. The following parameters were studied with closer observation on regenerated shoots. • Number of primary branches per sample • Length of primary branches • Total number of leaves per stock plant. The data were analyzed following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The experimental plots were arranged randomly and the planting stocks for each of the treatment were selected randomly in order to obtain proper and unbiased data. Observations were made every day very closely up to a week. All the parameters were studied and data were recorded on day 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 and 60. The raw data for each of the parameters were compiled and analysed to find variation resulting from experimental treatments on MSTATC package program (Gomez and Gomez, 1984). The means for all recorded data were calculated. Analysis of variance of all parameters was performed by F-variance test at 5% level of significance. The mean differences were evaluated by DMRT.

Source of Information: Asian Journal of Plant Sciences Volume 5, Number 6, 1043-1046, 2006

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.3923/ajps.2006.1043.1046, URL: http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ajps.2006.1043.1046

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The increase in biomass production with increasing pruning height was possibly due to more reserve materials in taller stocks (100 and 150 cm) of Leucaena leucocephala that resulted in faster growth of young shoots and higher number of branches in longer cuttings. It may be concluded that, a very good growth of young shoots occurred in Leucaena leucocephala with the higher pruning heights i.e., 100 and 150 cm. The study indicated that, regular forage harvest through pruning of young shoots from beheaded stock plants would be commercially useful for the farmers of Bangladesh.

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