LEGUMES

PASTURE LEGUMES Climbing & Twining Mainly cover crop species Centro Puero Calapo Upright shrubs & creeping Stylo Desmodium Arachis pintoi Tree Legumes Leucaena Gliricidia Sesbania

Centro (Centrosema pubescens) Used in mixtures as cover crops in plantations Native of South America Protein content of 23.6%, yields 6-10 t/ha Unsuited to very wet or too dry conditions Climbs tree trunks and fences if left unchecked Most palatable among the legume mixtures High persistence

Puero (Pueraria phaseoloides) A component of legume mixture Indigenous to Malaysia Vigorous early growth, large leaves Not tolerant to heavy grazing Able to grow in low fertility and acid soils Protein content 17.5 %, yields 5-10 t/ha

Calapo Calapogonium mucunoides Another component of cover crops Native of South America Aggressive growth Not very palatable because of hairy stems and leaves Protein content 15.6% yield 5-10 t/ha

Stylo Stylosanthes guianensis Has been used as cover crops Upright shrub, not climbing Tolerant to poor soils with low P Tolerant to sandy soils and drought

Petai belalang Leucaena leucocephala A tree legume, can reach 9 m height Native of Central America and Pacific Islands Requires high soil pH (>6), needs liming in most Malaysian soils Contains amino acid mimosine that cause toxicity to animals. Limit intake to 30% of diet Susceptible to Psyllids (sucking insects) High protein > 25%

Gliricidia sepium A tree legume usually used as shade in cocoa and coffee plantations Easily established using cuttings Leaves emit odour when fresh, should be wilted before feeding High dry matter yield, regrow easily after cutting

Planting mix legume-grass pasture

Legume seedlings

Legume-Grass Mixture

New legumes for Tropics? ALFALFA (Lucerne)