Subabul (kubabul) trees may be found across India. Subabul is commonly used as a fodder plant in the tropics, particularly on arid wastelands. It has white blooms with a yellow tint, similar to mimosa, and long flattened pods. Subabul leaves are used as green feed for livestock.
In the pulp and paper business, the wood of the Subabul tree has recently been utilized to make pulp. Subabul is the most notable pulpwood species for manufacturing pulp in India’s southern and central regions.
Nature’s way of expressing happiness is via fruits, flowers, and other natural products. This article discusses how to sow sublabel seeds correctly.
So, let’s get this party started.
About Seeds Subabul
One of the fastest-growing leguminous trees is Leucaena leucocephala. In Central America, Indonesia, and Thailand, its foliage is utilized as animal feed, while humans eat its leaves and seeds.
The Leguminosae family includes Leucaena leucocephala, often known as kubabul or, in India, one of the fastest-growing leguminous trees in India. It is a significant crop in India’s social forestry initiatives since it offers usable timber and leaves for fuel, energy, and feed in drought-prone areas and semi-arid plains.
In Central America, Indonesia, and Thailand, Leucaena foliage is used as animal feed, and humans eat the leaves and seeds. The seeds can also be utilized as dairy animal concentrates, manure, a protein source, an oilseed, and a possible source of commercial gum.
Although the botanical literature claims 55 species, Leucaena is a genus of Central American shrubs and trees with ten known species. Only L. collinsii, L. diversifolia, L. esculent, L. esculent, L. Ianceolata, L. leucocephala, L. macrophylla, L. pulverulenta, L. retusa, L. shannoni, and L. trichodes appear to be genuine.
Subabul Seeds: How to Plant Them
Let’s get the right things done faster and learn how to plant subabul seeds.
Step 01.
Nursery beds or polythene bags can be used to grow seedlings. The ideal method for cultivating the subabul is to start with seedlings and transplant them into the main field. The seedlings are planted in fine-textured soil that has been thoroughly prepared. To produce the appropriate number of seedlings for fodder, approximately 8-10 kg seed is required.
Step 02.
Sowing in the nursery occurs between March and April, depending on local meteorological circumstances. Treated seeds are planted in a row 30 cm apart, 5 cm apart, at a depth of l.S centimeter. Irrigations and weedings are administered as needed. By July-August, the seedlings are ready to plant.
Step 03.
Seedlings can be grown in polythene bags with a ratio of l::l of soil, sand, and F.Y.M. Two seeds are sowed at a depth of 1.5 centimeters per polythene bag. If both seeds in a bag germinate, one is carefully snipped off, ensuring that the roots of the required seedling are not disturbed. The seedlings’ tap-roots develop quickly and pierce through the bag, holding the soil below. Shifting the locations of the polythene bags every month is essential. In July and August, seedlings are planted in the main field.
Step 04.
Planting fodder necessitates trench construction, but planting forest trees demands performance one month before planting. Trenches or pits with dimensions of 30x30x30 cm are excavated. For fodder, the distance between trenches should be 1 to 2 meters, and for fodder-cum-intercrop cultivation, 3 to 4 meters. Depending on the requirements, the distance between forest pits might be 3xl0 m.
Step 05.
During the monsoon season, seedlings are sown at a 25-cm spacing in trench lines for fodder or are irrigated immediately after planting. To produce the best fodder production, you’ll need more than 10,000 seedlings per hectare. Earth balls are used for sowing seedlings that have been cultivated in a nursery. The bag is removed before planting polythene bag grown seedlings. However, care is taken to ensure that the soil column containing the roots is not destroyed during the removal of the bag or planting.
Step 06.
Pruning the lower branches is beneficial in locations where rainfall is scarce and irregular. Stump planting can be done with old nursery stock. Because Subabul is a leguminous crop, it does not require a lot of nitrogen fertilizer on regular soils. Additional fertilizers can be administered if the soil is deficient, as shown by a soil test. Before planting, a safe amount of 20-25 kg N/ha and 30-35 kg p 20/ha can be sprayed without a soil test. It helps the crop get off to a strong start.
Step 07.
Phosphatic fertilizers are applied once every two years, just before the monsoon, to maintain output. Irrigation is required for seedlings in the field because roots have not penetrated deep enough into the subsoil to contact soil moisture. Subabul is a deep-rooted crop that can tolerate long periods of drought for up to 8 months. In a prolonged drought, watering at two-month intervals maintains average growth.
Farmers profit from Subabul.
Subabul generates roughly 5-10 tons of dry edible biomass per hectare per year and 40-50 tons of fresh woody biomass per hectare per year on average. With high protein dry fodder costing Rs. 12 per kg, a farmer may quickly generate Rs. 60,000 per hectare on Leucaena fodder alone.
The wood supply at Rs. 2/kg will enhance this revenue. As a result, a farmer might earn around Rs. 1.4 lakh per hectare each year. Our study also reveals that the power cost from Leucaena will be around Rs. 5.7/kWhr at the cost of Rs. 2/kg fresh woody biomass. This power is more expensive than that generated by solar panels, but it is less expensive than diesel generators.
However, the appeal of this plan is that it is decentralized and may be implemented year-round, regardless of insolation. To make this project a success, machinery to harvest wood and leaves must be developed and outstanding R&D to generate Leucaena types with high leafy and woody biomass.
FAQ
What is the best way to start growing subabul from seed?
Sow 2 kg of high-germination’soft’ seed per hectare. Plant the seed in moist soil that will keep moist for a week but no more than 5 cm deep. In a row, the seed should be placed around 5 cm apart. Ascertain that the seed has been mechanically scarified and is injected with the appropriate rhizobium.
Subabul leaves are found in which protein?
Subabul leaves are used as green feed for livestock. TDN is 65 percent in Subabul seeds, and CP is 29 percent. As a result, it is an excellent source of calories and protein.
How quickly do subabul seeds sprout?
In terms of growth, the preliminary study found that Leucaena trees grew at 44 percent from the first to the fourth month and 43 percent from six to twelve months.
What is the best way to care for subabul seeds?
Prefers full sun and well-drained soil[307]. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, including limestone, wet and dry soils, volcanic soils, and somewhat salinized soils[200, 303]. It prefers a pH of 6 to 7.7 but may tolerate 5 to 8.5.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of subabul seeds?
The natural range of the lead tree, Leucaena leucocephala, includes Mexico and Central America. Because of its various purposes, the lead tree was most likely spread by humans. Fuelwood, timber, animal food, and green manure are all products of this versatile tree. Windbreaks, shade trees, and erosion control are examples of ornamental usage.
Closing Words
When using subabul seeds in feed, a mineral combination combining iron and iodine is recommended. Subabul as a green fodder should not account for more than 33% of the overall ratio. Subabul seeds can be utilized safely in concentrate mixtures up to 10% and 30% for nursing and growing animals, respectively. They can be used up to 30% of the time in adult bullock rations.
The isoelectric precipitation of seed kernel proteins has effectively generated subabul seed protein isolates with low mimosine levels. As a result, protein isolate processing might be thought of as a way to use Leucaena proteins in meals with little mimosine toxicity.
As a result, you may utilize these instructions and information to aid in planting Subabul seeds. Now is the moment to properly sow your seeds according to the instructions above so that you can enjoy the seasons.
Best wishes!
