Book of Abstracts
11th IFOAM
Scientific Conference
11-15 August 1996
Copenhagen, Denmark
Abstract front
page
Subject index
Athor index
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Symposia
Utilization of Leucaena in Sierra Leone S3
Bruno, B.
Louisiana State University, Eunice Science Division, P.O. Box 1129 Eunice, LA 70535 USA |
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| This work wants to point out the beneficial
effects of the tree Leucaena leucocephala in Organic Agriculture. This specie was
introduced at the experimental farm of St. Joseph Vocational Centre in Lunsar, Sierra
Leone, in 1987. Until 1989 data were collected and observations made to evaluate the
performances of this outstanding tropical tree. Due to its rapid growth, within the first
year of trial many positive effects were noted, especially for the protection of sloping
soils from water erosion. Trying to minimize soil erosion was in fact the main purpose for
planting these trees. By the end of the third year, a remarkable yield increase was also
obtained in maize, peanut and sweet potato crops. These were cultivated organically in
rotation on the alleys of land among the tree hedges. More successful, practical uses of
Leucaena will be described in this paper. Gliessman, S. R. (1992): Agroecology in the
Tropics: achieving a balance between land use and preservation. Environmental Management,
16 (6), 681-689.
Khan, M. J.; Monke, E. J.; Foster, G. R. (1988): Mulchcover and canopy effect on soil
loss. Transactions of ASAE, 31 (3), 706-711. |