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    Leuceana Code of Practice

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    keratea
    This document outlines a Code of Practice for managing the weed potential of grazed Leucaena pastures in northern Australia. It provides guidelines for responsible cultivation and containment of Leucaena to prevent its spread as an invasive weed. The Code recommends grazing or cutting Leucaena regularly to minimize seed production, establishing buffer zones around plantings, controlling any escaped plants, and monitoring waterways for seedlings. Adopting these practices can provide a sustainable forage resource while limiting the weed risk posed by Leucaena.

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    Leuceana Code of Practice

    Uploaded by

    keratea
    19 views2 pages
    This document outlines a Code of Practice for managing the weed potential of grazed Leucaena pastures in northern Australia. It provides guidelines for responsible cultivation and containment of Leucaena to prevent its spread as an invasive weed. The Code recommends grazing or cutting Leucaena regularly to minimize seed production, establishing buffer zones around plantings, controlling any escaped plants, and monitoring waterways for seedlings. Adopting these practices can provide a sustainable forage resource while limiting the weed risk posed by Leucaena.

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    Code of Practice

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    This document outlines a Code of Practice for managing the weed potential of grazed Leucaena pastures in northern Australia. It provides guidelines for responsible cultivation and containment of Leucaena to prevent its spread as an invasive weed. The Code recommends grazing or cutting Leucaena regularly to minimize seed production, establishing buffer zones around plantings, controlling any escaped plants, and monitoring waterways for seedlings. Adopting these practices can provide a sustainable forage resource while limiting the weed risk posed by Leucaena.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    19 views2 pages

    Leuceana Code of Practice

    Uploaded by

    keratea
    This document outlines a Code of Practice for managing the weed potential of grazed Leucaena pastures in northern Australia. It provides guidelines for responsible cultivation and containment of Leucaena to prevent its spread as an invasive weed. The Code recommends grazing or cutting Leucaena regularly to minimize seed production, establishing buffer zones around plantings, controlling any escaped plants, and monitoring waterways for seedlings. Adopting these practices can provide a sustainable forage resource while limiting the weed risk posed by Leucaena.

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    "Promotes the responsible establishment and management of combined leucaena grass pastures.

    "


    Code of Practice for Managing the Weed Potential of Grazed Leucaena
    Pastures
    Preamble
    Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala subspecies glabrata), when planted with improved grass
    species provides a sustainable grazing system in northern Australia. Leucaena has been grown
    commercially in Queensland since the late 1970s. The Queensland Government recognises
    that leucaena is a valuable forage when managed properly, but it constitutes a threat to the
    natural environment if not contained in those areas in which it has been planted, or controlled in
    those areas that it has invaded.

    A Code of Practice for growing Leucaena was first adopted in 2000; this update aims to
    reinforce its adoption.

    Weed Potential
    The most significant weed trait of leucaena is its potential to form dense thickets in ungrazed
    areas over time. Any ripe seed that escapes flower-eating caterpillars and bruchid beetles can
    stay viable in the soil for several years.

    The current major weed impact comes from ungrazed 'common' leucaena (L. leucocephala
    subspecies leucocephala). This has been naturalised in coastal and urban areas of Northern
    Australia for more than 100 years - long before the release of commercial cultivars for grazing.
    However, it must be noted that commercial cultivars of subspecies glabrata have similar weed
    potential. When planted as ungrazed ornamentals in urban areas, plants can contribute to the
    weed threat. Commercial leucaena pastures must not be allowed to contribute to the weed
    problem.

    It is recommended that Leucaena be grown to The Leucaena Network Code of Practice.

    Purpose of a Code of Practice
    The Code of Practice (CODE) targets those features of leucaena that pre-dispose it to
    weediness and advocates management to limit their impact. It aims to promote the responsible,
    sustainable and productive development of combined leucaena / grass pastures. It is essential
    that the CODE be adopted by all landowners who have leucaena planted on their properties.

    The planting of leucaena for any purpose other than as highly managed and well contained
    forage is not supported by industry bodies and Government agencies, and should be
    discouraged. This CODE is supported by the Department of Employment, Economic
    Development and Innovation.

    Aims of the Code of Practice
    Avoid planting leucaena near potential weed risk zones
    Minimise seed set in grazed stands
    Diminish the risk of live seed dispersal
    Control escaped plants from grazed stands
    Principles of the Code of Practice
    Plant leucaena ONLY if you intend to manage it and are prepared to accept responsibility to
    control leucaena that establishes outside the planted area on your property, including
    watercourses.

    This can be achieved by adopting the following practices:
    - Do not plant leucaena in areas where rivers, creeks and flood channels can disperse seed
    pods/seed. If leucaena becomes a restricted or regulated plant under a Wild Rivers declaration,
    growers must comply with the relevant Wild Rivers Code
    - Keep leucaena at least 20 m away from external fence lines
    - Maintain a buffer strip of strong grass pasture between leucaena plantings and creeks or
    boundary fences
    - Fully fence leucaena paddocks to avoid the unlikely risk of stock spreading ripe seed
    - Graze or cut leucaena to keep it within the reach of animals and minimise seed set
    - Establish and manage vigorous grass in the inter-rows to:
    provide competition to minimise establishment of volunteer leucaena seedlings
    minimize the risk of seed being transported during heavy rain
    productively utilize fixed nitrogen the system produces
    maintain ground cover and prevent soil erosion
    - Maintain the practice of:
    (a) regularly monitoring creeks and major watercourses to detect any escaped leucaena
    seedlings and plants
    (b) Controlling all plants detected adjacent to property boundaries
    on creek banks and other adjoining areas where cattle do not normally have access
    on public roadsides (after first obtaining a permit from Main Roads or Shire Council)
    - Comply with local laws (weed declarations etc) and assist Local Government agencies to
    identify any escaped leucaena so that action can be taken to control it
    - Promote the responsible management of leucaena in accordance with this Code
    - Keep abreast of best practice developments in the management of leucaena.

    CODE updated J une 9, 2010


    Join The Leucaena Network
    to find out more about the establishment and management of leucaena pastures

    Contact: Berry Reynolds, Executive Officer
    Mobile 0418 928 222 or admin@leucaena.net




    This Code of Practice is endorsed by AgForce and its development was financially supported by MLA

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