• Adds valuable nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca, • serve as support for other species. and Mg to the soil. plants grown on • A mixture of ground leaves or bark and cooked 700-m long bunds can provide about 30 kg N seeds of Gliricidia is used as poisonous bait for ha-1 yr-1 under rainfed systems with 700–800 rats. mm annual rainfall. • Leaves are used as insecticide and insect • Reduces environmental risks associated with repellent. chemical fertilizers. Use of Gliricidia as green Benefits to farmers manure minimizes the usage of chemical • Enhancement of soil productivity. fertilizers that are very expensive and also • Increase in crop yields. environmentally unfriendly. • Acts as a barrier and filter to the rainwater Benefits to environment running down the surface of a slope. Gliricidia • Improved soil quality. roots stabilize lands with high slopes. • Reduced soil erosion. • Reduced pollution as the use of chemical fertilizers is minimized. Benefits to national economy • Sustainable agricultural productivity. • Reduced reliance on fossil fuels for producing fertilizers. • Increased carbon sequestration. Farmers should be encouraged to grow Gliricidia on farm bunds and borders of fields. Use of Gliricidia as green manure in crop production systems provides a sustainable means of maintaining soil fertility along with inorganic Chopped loppings used as green manure sources of nutrients.

The Plant Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud. (syn. Gliricidia maculata H.B.K.) is a fast growing, tropical, leguminous . It is one of the commonest and best-known multipurpose in many parts of , , West , West Indies, South Asia, and tropical Americas. The tree is used for timber, Plants grown as hedge or vegetative barrier firewood, hedges, medicinal purpose, charcoal, live fences, plantation shade, poles, soil stabilization, and as Additional uses green manure. The toxic property of the seeds and bark • Plants are grown as live fence (hedge). has given rise to the generic epithet (gliricidia = mouse • Stems are used as fuelwood. Gliricidia plants grown on border of chickpea field killer). Gliricidia sepium adapts very well in a wide range of soils ranging from eroded acidic (pH 4.5–6.2)

For further details please contact: soils, fertile sandy soils, heavy clay, calcareous limestone, and alkaline soils. Gliricidia tolerates fire Dr S P Wani and the trees quickly re-sprout with the onset of rains. Principal Scientist (Watersheds) & Regional Project Coordinator Water, Soil and Agro-biodiversity Management International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, International Crops Research Institute Asian Development Bank Phone: +91(40) 3296161 Extn. 2466; Fax: +91(40) 3241239 or 3296182; Email: [email protected] for the Semi-Arid Tropics 0401 Metro Manila, 0980 Manila www.icrisat.org Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India The Soils in the tropics are low in organic matter and length. The stem Planting least thrice during the year; i.e., in June (before have low nutrient supplying capacity. Soil organic cutting is normally cut sowing of the rainy season crop), in November Gliricidia stem cuttings or 3- to 4-month-old matter plays an important role in crop obliquely at both ends, (before sowing of the postrainy season crop), and seedlings can be planted on bunds at 50 cm production. Continuous application of organic discarding the younger in March (before sowing of the summer crop). spacing during the rainy season. For steep slopes, matter as farm compost, farmyard manure, and tips and the base is closer plant spacings of <20 cm is recommended Chopping plant residues is needed to maintain or increase inserted 20–50 cm into for better soil erosion control. Gliricidia plants soil organic matter content. However, short the soil. The cuttings Gliricidia loppings are cut into small pieces. The from stem cuttings grow faster than those grown supply of organic manures and competitive uses should be planted on chopped material is applied to the soil surface as from seeds. of farm residues as feed and fuel make it difficult bunds in the rainy mulch or incorporated into the soil as green manure. to apply these to soil at desired levels. Green leaf Stem cuttings season immediately manuring is one of the important farming after these are cut practices for increasing organic matter content in from the stems. The plants grow quickly from the soil. In highly degraded soils, especially in the cuttings. Propagation from stakes is simple but tropics, soils lack sufficient amount of nitrogen suitable mainly for situations where only a few (N). Green leaf manure plants such as Gliricidia trees are to be established. For hedges, cuttings are can play an important role in tropical farming planted closely at 50 cm spacing. The hedges can systems for increasing the soil fertility. Growing be periodically pruned to provide fodder, green Gliricidia plants on farm bunds serves dual manure, firewood, or stakes for new fences. purpose of producing green leaf manure rich in Plants grown from seeds in polythene bags Seed propagation N, under field conditions and also helps in conserving soil through reduced soil erosion. Gliricidia seeds are soaked in water for 8–10 h, Pruning preferably overnight. The soaked seeds are sown One year after planting, harvesting can be started in small polythene bags filled with a mixture of by lopping the plants at 75 cm above the ground. Characteristics of Gliricidia red soil, sand, and farmyard manure (1:1:1) and For good management, plants should be pruned watered regularly. Generally, 3- to 4-month-old • Gliricidia is a woody, green leaf manure tree at appropriate time. Pruning should be done at about 12 m in height. seedlings can be planted on bunds in the rainy • The foliage can be used as green manure season. Seed propagation method is more Chopped loppings (natural fertilizer). convenient for establishing a large number of • Gliricidia is a root nodulating, N-fixing, and plants. multipurpose . • It grows fast and is tolerant to pruning. • It can thrive in dry, moist, acidic soils or even poor degraded, infertile soils under rainfed conditions. • The leaves contain nutrients: N (2.4%), ab phosphorus (P) (0.1%), potassium (K) (1.8%), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). • Gliricidia adds plant nutrients and organic matter to the soil and increases crop Soil application of chopped material Pruning of stems productivity on infertile and degraded soils. Benefits of Gliricidia Cultivation and Management Role in soil management • Increases organic matter content in the soil. Practices Seeds: (a)Before soaking; (b)After soaking • Improves soil physical properties. Propagation • Restores and improves the soil fertility. Gliricidia can be propagated through stem • Increases crop yields. cuttings or seed. • Allows the water to infiltrate into the soil more quickly rather than run off the surface. Stem cutting or stake method • Increases water-holding capacity of the soil. Gliricidia cuttings are taken from stems of at • Reduces soil erosion. least one-year-old plants. These should be from • Increases nutrient availability in the soil due to brownish-green mature branches and should Polythene bags Sowing seeds in production of carbon dioxide and organic acids measure 2–6 cm in diameter and 30–100 cm in containing soil polythene bags Stems pruned at 75 cm above ground during decomposition of the plant material.