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PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE MAJOR CHARACTERISTIC, AGRONOMIC FEATURE AND NUTRIENT VALUE OF GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM IN COCONUT

PLANTATIONS OF PAKISTAN

ABDUL HAMEED SOLANGI¹, BHUGRO MAL¹, A.R. KAZMI¹ AND M. ZAFAR IQBAL²

Abstract: The leguminous Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Stud., was for the first time tested on sandy loam soil in Coco nucifera L., plantations at Coastal Agricultural Research Station, PARC, Karachi, Pakistan. The aspect of morphological characteristic, floral biology and management of G. sepium were studied from February 2006 to November 2008. Twenty plants were marked and observed after every 4^th day for morphological and phonological studies. The morphometric characteristic were small to medium sized tree, upto 06-11 meter in height. Branched frequently from the base reaching 40-60cm. Bark was smooth and whitish grey to light red brown. The leaves were odd pinnate and usually alternate with an average of 22.68cm long and 3.92cm width having 11.4 leaflets; midrib and rachis occasionally striped red. Leaf shading started in November and remained up to February. For floral biology, flowers and inflorescences were marked and observed until fruit set. Inflorescences appeared as clustered racemes on distal parts of new and old wood. The flowers were bloom with pink or reddish to lavender color during January and February.  The fruit was green, tinged reddish purple when imature, light yellow-brown when mature narrow an average of 13.8 cm long, 2cm wide, 5-9 numbers of seeds/pods yellow–brown nearly round. Plants planted through seeds and cuttings had better biomass production of cuttings as compared to seeds. The nutrients concentration percentage showed minimum and maximum, potassium and chloride respectively. Aphids were observed during flowering season, especially in January and February. It produces fruit after cross-pollination. Aphid, honey bees and the main pollinators of this species were also noted.

¹Coastal Agricultural Research Station, SARC, PARC, Karachi,

²Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.