El - Baha, A., Abu - Gazia, H., El - Settawy, A., Zayed, M. (2009). Leucaena leucocephala: EFFECT OF SPACING AND AGE ON GROWTH, BIOMASS AND SOME PHYSICAL AND ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOD. Journal of Plant Production, 34(7), 8093-8109. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2009.118794
A. M. A. El - Baha; H. A. Abu - Gazia; A. A. A. El - Settawy; M. Z. A. Zayed. "Leucaena leucocephala: EFFECT OF SPACING AND AGE ON GROWTH, BIOMASS AND SOME PHYSICAL AND ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOD". Journal of Plant Production, 34, 7, 2009, 8093-8109. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2009.118794
El - Baha, A., Abu - Gazia, H., El - Settawy, A., Zayed, M. (2009). 'Leucaena leucocephala: EFFECT OF SPACING AND AGE ON GROWTH, BIOMASS AND SOME PHYSICAL AND ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOD', Journal of Plant Production, 34(7), pp. 8093-8109. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2009.118794
El - Baha, A., Abu - Gazia, H., El - Settawy, A., Zayed, M. Leucaena leucocephala: EFFECT OF SPACING AND AGE ON GROWTH, BIOMASS AND SOME PHYSICAL AND ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOD. Journal of Plant Production, 2009; 34(7): 8093-8109. doi: 10.21608/jpp.2009.118794
Leucaena leucocephala: EFFECT OF SPACING AND AGE ON GROWTH, BIOMASS AND SOME PHYSICAL AND ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOD
This study was carried out in Experimental Station of Forestry and Wood Technology Department, Fac. Agric., Alexandria Univ., El-Shatby, Alexandria, Egypt in 2006- 2008. The study dealt with the effect of spacing and time of cutting on the growth, yield, nutritional value of soft edible parts for animals and seed, some physical and anatomical properties of the wood of Leucaena leucocephala trees. Four month old aged transplants of L. leucocephala transplants were planted in 0.5 × 0.5 (D1) 1.0 × 1.0 (D2) and 2.0 × 2.0 (D3) m apart. Growth parameters (Pole height and stem diameter) were monthly determined. Plants were cut after one year (Y1) and two years (Y2) of planting date. To study the effect of spacing and age of plants, RCPD design was followed. The most important results can be presented as follows: total dry biomass was 14.1, 12.74 and 11.15 ton/ feddan for D1, D2 and D3 treatment of cut plants after one year of planting date (Y1) and 30.66, 28.53 and 27.30 tons/ feddan for those cut after 2 years of planting date (Y2), respectively. Dry weight of soft-edible parts (as forage for animal) was 5.03, 4.25 and 3.58 ton/ feddan of D1, D2 and D3, respectively in " Y1", while it was 10.33, 9.63 and 8.70 tons/ feddan in " Y2".Analysis of edible parts of plant revealed that it was contained 1.07, 0.88 and 0.74 ton of crude protein/ feddan in D1, D2 and D3 of Y1 plants, respectively, while it was amounted for 2.26, 2.04 and 1.85 tons of crude protein/ feddan in Y2. However, moisture content of wood was averaged 96.18 and 106.91% for Y1 and Y2, respectively. Fiber length was 1.1 and 1.21 mm for Y1 and Y2, respectively. Microscopic examination of anatomical elements (vessels, fibers, rays and longitudinal- parenchyma) distribution revealed that there were no significant influences of spacing (D1, D2 and D3) and age of cut (Y1 and Y2) on the percentage of each element. Annual cut recommended for forage production pulp paper and particle board, fuel production. It is recommended also to extend plantation of L. leucocephala to capitalize on its environmental and economic benefits.