🌿 How to Grow Leucaena leucocephala (Native Variety) Seeds

Also known as:

• Hindi: सिरसी (Sirsi)

• Tamil: வெள்ளை முருங்கை

• Telugu: సిరిస

• Malayalam: സിരിസ

• Kannada: ಸಿರಸಿ

• English: Leucaena leucocephala / White Leadtree / Subabul

1. 🌱 Choose the Right Season

• Best time to sow: Early spring (Feb–Apr) or start of monsoon (June–Aug)

• Prefers warm tropical and subtropical climates

• Ideal germination temperature: 25°C to 35°C

2. 🌾 Seed Pre-treatment

• Seeds have a hard coat; soak in lukewarm water for 24 hours before sowing

• Optional: Scarify by gently rubbing seeds with sandpaper to improve germination rates

3. 🪴 Prepare the Growing Medium

• Use well-drained, sandy loam or loamy soil

• Mix garden soil + compost + coarse sand (2:1:1) for good aeration

• Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline (6.5–7.5)

4. 🌿 Sowing the Seeds

• Sow seeds ½ inch (1.2 cm) deep in seedbeds, pots, or directly in the ground

• Space seeds 3–4 inches apart in seedbeds, or 1–2 seeds per pot (thin to one seedling)

• Cover lightly with soil and water gently

5. 💧 Watering

• Keep soil moist but not waterlogged during germination and seedling stage

• Water daily or every alternate day depending on weather

• Reduce watering after seedlings establish

6. 🌞 Germination

• Germination time: 7–15 days

• Keep in warm, bright, indirect sunlight during early growth

7. 🌤️ Sunlight & Temperature

• Requires full sun exposure (6–8 hours/day) for best growth

• Thrives between 25°C and 35°C

• Tolerant to drought and heat once established

8. 🌱 Transplanting

• Transplant seedlings when 6–8 inches tall

• In the field, maintain spacing of 3–5 meters (10–16 feet) between plants

• Plant during early rainy season or cooler part of the day

9. 🌿 Fertilization

• Add organic compost or farmyard manure at transplanting

• Apply nitrogen-fixing biofertilizers or Rhizobium inoculants for better growth

• Top-dress with compost every 3 months if needed

10. 🛡️ Pest & Disease Care

• Generally hardy and resistant to pests

• May occasionally get attacked by aphids or caterpillars — use neem oil spray or natural insecticides

• Maintain good air circulation to avoid fungal diseases

11. 🌳 Growth & Maintenance

• Fast-growing tree/shrub, reaching 6–10 meters in height

• Used as fodder, green manure, firewood, and soil binder

• Prune regularly to promote bushier growth and prevent excessive height

• Excellent for reforestation, agroforestry, and erosion control

🌟 Benefits of Leucaena leucocephala Native Variety

• Nitrogen-fixing species improving soil fertility naturally

• Provides high-protein fodder for livestock

• Wood used for fuel, poles, and small timber

• Controls soil erosion and rehabilitates degraded lands

• Supports sustainable agroforestry and mixed cropping systems