Adopting Gliricidia sepium – A Dry Season Fodder Species to Combat Drought

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5.36 - Adopting Gliricidia sepium – A Dry Season Fodder Species to Combat Drought


Brooke-Lynn Morning, University of Guelph, Canada

Suggested citation for this chapter.

Morning, B. (2022) Adopting Gliricidia sepium – A Dry Season Fodder Species to Combat Drought, In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. farmpedia.org

History of Climate Change Impact

Climate change has impacted geographic regions in diverse ways, most commonly manifesting as severe droughts and irregular water supplies. This trend is driven by extreme temperature fluctuations and overall global warming (Gan, 2015). These compounding issues heavily threaten both crop yields and livestock survival for smallholder farmers.

Description of Innovation and Climate Impact

The drought-tolerant legume tree, Gliricidia sepium, offers two primary benefits for smallholder farmers. First, it stabilizes agricultural yields by providing shade to understory companion crops like coffee and cacao through intercropping systems (Smith, n.d.). Second, it serves as a highly nutritious, protein-rich fodder source for livestock (Wambugu, 2011). Beyond these main uses, the tree also functions as a reliable source of green manure and fuelwood (Gutteridge, 1998).

Nutritional Value for Livestock

The foliage of Gliricidia sepium is rich in protein and highly digestible for livestock (Rahim Foroughbakhch, 2012). On a dry matter basis, the plant maintains a crude protein level between 7% and 15% depending on the season, while the fiber content rests at approximately 15%. Boasting a high digestibility rate of 60% to 65% (Rahim Foroughbakhch, 2012), this species is an excellent fodder alternative for cattle, goats, lambs, and sheep, comparable in quality to alfalfa (Gutteridge, 1998). Farmers utilizing Gliricidia sepium as cattle feed have reported significant livestock weight gain and increased milk production (Gutteridge, 1998).

Target Crops and Geographical Zone

Gliricidia sepium is a versatile fodder shrub particularly suited to mitigating drought across dry regions of Africa, with documented success in East Africa (Wambugu, 2011). While adaptable to various zones, it performs best in sub-humid and tropical areas during dry seasons (Smith, n.d.). The species is highly resilient, capable of surviving harsh environmental stressors such as fire, prolonged drought, brief flooding, and high winds (Elevitch, 2006).

Establishment and Growth Cycle

The tree can be established using several methods, though direct seeding and transplanting seedlings remain the most common (Elevitch, 2006). Natural seed dispersal occurs when mature pods burst, shedding seeds over a radius of up to 40 meters; these wild seeds exhibit high germination rates of up to 90% (Arguello-Rangel, 2019). If the tree is cultivated primarily for fodder, it should be cut systematically at the end of the dry season (Arguello-Rangel, 2019). It tolerates frequent, heavy pruning and displays rapid regrowth (Gutteridge, 1998).

Growth is rapid during the first 6 to 8 years—particularly during the first year, when trees typically grow 1 to 2 meters in height (Elevitch, 2006). Once they reach maturity at around 8 years, vertical growth slows to just centimeters per year. The tree can begin flowering as early as the first dry season following establishment. Gliricidia sepium is long-lived, with a typical lifespan of approximately 50 years (Elevitch, 2006).

Growing Conditions

Gliricidia sepium thrives in warm climates (20°C to 30°C) with plenty of sunlight, maintaining productive growth even during dry seasons (Gutteridge, 1998; Elevitch, 2006). It can tolerate maximum temperatures up to 42°C and minimums down to 8°C before suffering physiological damage (Elevitch, 2006). While the tree grows best with an annual rainfall of approximately 1500 mm, it can survive in zones receiving anywhere from 600 mm to 3500 mm (Gutteridge, 1998; Elevitch, 2006).

It adapts to elevations from sea level up to 1200 meters and grows in soils ranging from loose sand to heavy clay. However, it cannot tolerate cold, wet, compacted, or poorly aerated soils (Elevitch, 2006). The ideal soil pH ranges between 5.0 and 8.5, though it can survive in pH levels from 4.2 to 9.0 (Elevitch, 2006). As a nitrogen-fixing legume, Gliricidia sepium improves soil fertility and companion crop productivity (Elevitch, 2006). Although it grows most vigorously in soils naturally rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, it performs well in nutrient-poor soils and demonstrates high tolerance to saline environments (Gutteridge, 1998; Elevitch, 2006).

Cost and Accessibility

While farmers can purchase established seedlings from commercial nurseries, doing so costs roughly 24% more than growing from bare-rooted seeds. However, potted seedlings boast higher field survival rates and are significantly more drought-tolerant during early establishment (Franzel, 2014). On retail platforms like Alibaba and IndiaMart, bulk seeds sell for approximately 40 to 100 USD per kilogram and can be shipped internationally, including to East Africa, depending on the supplier. The minimum order quantity is typically 1 kilogram. Alternatively, the World Agroforestry Centre in Kenya maintains a diverse seed bank; farmers and researchers can request seed samples directly through their online portal or via regional affiliate research sites.

Scale and Yield

Farmers can expect a dry matter yield of 2 to 10 tonnes per hectare annually (Smith, n.d.), with optimal biomass production achieved when harvesting the foliage every three months (Arguello-Rangel, 2019). When left unpruned, mature trees grow to heights of 12 to 14 meters, providing excellent canopy shade and abundant seasonal flowers (Gutteridge, 1998).

Equipment and Labor

Establishing Gliricidia sepium requires no specialized agricultural machinery. Direct seeding is straightforward, with seeds planted at a shallow depth of approximately 5 mm (Elevitch, 2006). However, young trees occasionally require support stakes during early growth stages to ensure straight trunks, which represents a minor resource cost (Smith, n.d.). Periodic pruning is also required to maintain a balanced tree shape and prevent uneven canopy development (Elevitch, 2006).

Post-Harvest and Storage

When grown strictly for shade or live fencing, no storage is necessary. When utilized as livestock feed, storage needs remain minimal because animals typically browse the leaves directly from the living trees. If leaves are harvested manually, they must be kept dry; livestock readily consume them once slightly wilted (Arguello-Rangel, 2019). For seed preservation, storage in airtight, impermeable bags at cool temperatures is highly recommended to maintain long-term germination rates. Seeds can be stored at room temperature, though this results in a gradual decline in viability over time (Reis, 2012).

Safety and Toxicity

While highly nutritious, Gliricidia sepium contains anti-nutritional compounds like tannins and can become toxic to livestock if fed in excessive, unbalanced quantities (Smith, n.d.). The roots, bark, and seeds are poisonous and should never be ingested by humans or animals (Elevitch, 2006). Fortunately, the tree has a lower tannin concentration than comparable tropical fodder legumes, making acute toxicity rare under standard feeding regimes (Gutteridge, 1998). Of note during harvest: if mature seed pods overheat under direct sunlight, they can split open with explosive force (Elevitch, 2006).

Environmental and Sustainability Issues

Poor establishment or stunted growth is often linked to underdeveloped root systems. During severe, multi-year droughts, shallow-rooted young trees may struggle to access deep groundwater. Furthermore, monoculture plantings can attract new pest insect species, which may subsequently threaten neighboring cash crops (Gutteridge, 1998).

Critical Analysis

While highly resilient, Gliricidia sepium is not a magic bullet. The tree still requires baseline water access to establish; it will not survive in absolute, hyper-arid desert conditions. Additionally, due to anti-nutritional factors, it cannot serve as a sole feed source and must be integrated into a balanced mixed-diet system alongside other climate-resilient forage plants. Farmers must also monitor potential insect pest build-ups associated with the canopy. Ultimately, however, the ecological and economic benefits—including high-protein feed, nitrogen fixation, and crop shade—far outweigh the limitations, making this species a highly recommended asset for drought-prone smallholder systems.

References

1. Argüello-Rangel, J. (2019). Fodder shrubs: relevance in cattle systems of Colombian low altitude lands. Mesoamerican Journal of Agronomy - Agriculture and Livestock, 30(3). DOI: 10.15517/am.v30i3.35136

2. Elevitch, C. R., & Francis, J. K. (2006). Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry - Gliricidia sepium. SARE. PDF Link

3. Franzel, S., Carsan, S., Lukuyu, B., Sinja, J., & Wambugu, C. (2014). Fodder trees for improving livestock productivity and smallholder livelihoods in Africa. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 6, 98–103. ScienceDirect Link

4. Foroughbakhch, R., Parra, A. C., Estrada, A. R., Vazquez, M. A. A., & Avila, M. L. C. (2012). Nutrient Content and in vitro Dry Matter Digestibility of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam. De Wit.). Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11(10), 1708–1712. AGRIS Record

5. Gan, T., Ito, M., Hülsmann, S., Qin, X., Lu, X., Liong, S., … Koivusalo, H. (2016). Possible climate change/variability and human impacts, vulnerability of drought-prone regions, water resources and capacity building for Africa. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 61(7), 1209-1226. Taylor & Francis Link

6. Gutteridge, R. C., & Shelton, H. M. (1998). Gliricidia sepium. In Forage Tree Legumes in Tropical Agriculture (pp. 30–48). CAB International, Queensland, Australia. PDF Link

7. Maheshwari, A. (2019). Personal communication via email (buyershelp+enq@indiamart.com), November 7, 2019. A. Maheshwari is a sales representative for IndiaMart.com.

8. Reis, R. C. R., Pelacani, C. R., Antunes, C. G. C., Dantas, B. F., & Castro, R. D. D. (2012). Physiological quality of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud. (Leguminosae - Papilionoideae) seeds subjected to different storage conditions. Revista Árvore, 36(2), 229–235. SciELO Link

9. Rich Art and Craft. (2019). Personal communication via email (richartandcraft@gmail.com), November 7, 2019. Rich Art and Craft is a supplier for Alibaba.

10. Seed & Genebank. (n.d.). World Agroforestry Centre. Seed Bank Portal

11. Smith, O. B. (n.d.). Fodder trees and shrubs in range and farming systems in tropical humid Africa. FAO, Rome. FAO Reference

12. Wambugu, C., Place, F., & Franzel, S. (2011). Research, development and scaling-up the adoption of fodder shrub innovations in East Africa. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 9(1), 100–109. Taylor & Francis Link

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