Hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus)

Datasheet

Description

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Dwarf koa (Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd.), habit at Maui, Hawaii

Dwarf koa (Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd.), leaves and flowers at Midway atoll, Hawaii

Dwarf koa (Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd.), pods at Midway atoll, Hawaii

Desmanthus virgatus cultivated for hay, Queensland, Australia

Common names

Hedge lucerne, dwarf koa, desmanthus, bundle flower [English]; bilil, brusca prieta, frijolillo, ground tamarind, guajillo [Spanish]; koa nain, petit acacia, petit cassie, petit mimosa [French]; guashillo, huarangillo, langalet, virgate mimosa [Hawaï]; 合欢草 [Chinese]

Species

Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd. [Fabaceae]

Synonyms

Acuan virgatum (L.) Medik., Acuan virgatum (L.) Medik. f. virgatum, Desmanthus leptophyllus DC., Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd. var. virgatus, Mimosa virgata L.

Desmanthus virgatus, Desmanthus pubescens, Desmanthus pernambucanus, Desmanthus glandulosus and Desmanthus leptophyllus were not considered to be different species until 1993 and many authors continued to refer to all species as Desmanthus virgatus in the literature until the late 1990s (Cook et al., 2005).

Related feed(s)

Description

Hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd.) is a highly variable perennial legume. Morphology and habit range from a prostrate herbaceous plant, less than 50 cm high, to an erect or decumbent woody shrub, up to 2.5-3 m high (Gutteridge et al., 1994). It has a deep taproot and is strongly branched from the base. The stems are slender, pithy in the center, angular, green turning brown. The leaves are 2-8 cm long, compound, bipinnate, bearing 10-25 pairs of linear-oblong, 4-12 mm long x 1.5-3 mm broad leaflets. The inflorescence bears 9-11 whitish mimosoid flowers. The fruits are linear, dehiscent, 5.5-8.5 cm long pods. They contain 11-26 reddish-brown or golden-brown U-shaped seeds. Hedge lucerne is morphologically very similar to Leucaena leucocephala (also called koa haole) but it is smaller and bears smaller leaflets, hence one of its names "dwarf koa" (FAO, 2010; Cook et al., 2005).

Hedge lucerne is primarily used as forage. It is highly palatable to ruminants and may be grazed or fed fresh in cut-and-carry systems (FAO, 2010). It is one of the legumes most tolerant to grazing and withstands regular cutting (US Forest Service, 2010; Cook et al., 2005). It also helps to control soil erosion, provides green manure and adds N to the soil (Ecocrop, 2010).

Distribution

Hedge lucerne originated from tropical and subtropical Americas. It is widespread in Texas and Florida in the USA, in Veracruz and Chiapas in Mexico, in the Caribbean and throughout Central and South America (Cook et al., 2005). It is naturalized in African dry lands (Senegal, Zambia, South-Africa), in the Pacific Islands (New Caledonia, Hawaii) and Indonesia (FAO, 2010). It was introduced in India and Australia (Pengelly et al., 1992). Hedge lucerne is mainly found in coastal thickets, roadsides and heavily disturbed areas, from sea-level to an altitude of 2000 m, but most commonly below 500 m (Ecocrop, 2010; Cook et al., 2005).

Hedge lucerne is very adaptive and can grow under a wide range of temperatures (including frost conditions) and rainfall conditions (from 250 to 2000 mm) (Cook et al., 2005; Pengelly et al., 1992). Hedge lucerne prefers neutral to alkaline clay or clay-loam soils but is also known to do better than Leucaena on acid infertile soils (Gutteridge et al., 1994; Pengelly et al., 1992). It is also tolerant of sodic soils (Cook et al., 2005). Hedge lucerne is a very drought-tolerant legume. It withstands frost and fire (which may suppress buried seed dormancy) since it can regrow from the crown. Hedge lucerne tolerates severe competition from grasses and herbs but disappears when overtopped by trees since it does not withstand shaded conditions (Francis, 2004; Cook et al., 2005).

Forage management

Yields of hedge lucerne range from 7.6 t DM/ha in the humid tropics (2000 mm rainfall) to 2-2.4 t DM/ha in low rainfall (600-750 mm) areas in Northern Australia (Cook et al., 2005). In a comparative study with various fodder legume trees and shrubs in Ghana, Desmanthus virgatus was among the low-yielding species and much less productive than Gliricidia sepium, Calliandra calothyrsus or Cajanus cajan (Barnes, 1998).

Desmanthus virgatus withstands regular cutting, and plantations can be cut for feed 4 (Cook et al., 2005) or 6 times a year (Radhakrishnan et al., 2007). In drought-prone areas, hedge lucerne is one of the most resistant legumes and was able to persist under grazing over a 14 year period (Cook et al., 2005).

Desmanthus virgatus was found less suitable than Leucaena leucocephala (lower protein and in vitro OMD) for grass-legume forage production in alley cropping in the Caribbean (Adjei, 1995).

The contribution of Desmanthus virgatus to pasture yield is higher in harsh environments than in more favourable ones, so that it is relatively more valuable on soils of moderate fertility in environments with a marked dry season (Cook et al., 2005).

Environmental impact

N-fixing legume

Hedge lucerne, provided it is inoculated with adequate rhizobium strains, is a good N-fixing legume. In places where it is not native (Australia), hedge lucerne should be inoculated before sowing (Brandon et al., 1998).

Erosion control

Used in alley cropping, hedge lucerne helps controlling soil erosion on steep slopes in the Philippines (US Forest Service, 2010).

Other services

Hedge lucerne is an efficient nursery-stage host for highly priced sandalwood (Ecocrop, 2010).

Weed potential

Because of it vigorous growth, hedge lucerne may become a minor weed in disturbed areas (Cook et al., 2005) and a serious weed in sugar cane fields (US Forest Service, 2010).

Nutritional aspects

Nutritional attributes

Like many other tropical legume plants, hedge lucerne has a fairly high protein content, typically in the 15-20% DM range, and the leaves have a higher protein content than the stems (22-28% DM for the leaves vs. 7% for the stems) (Ly et al., 2001; Skerman, 1982; Radhakrishnan et al., 2007; Ramirez et al., 2000). Lower protein values (8.9% DM) and much higher fibre values (58.3-73.5% DM) have been reported for Desmanthus virgatus hay (Rangel et al., 2009). Compared to 15 other shrub species from northeastern Mexico, Desmanthus virgatus had an average crude protein content (17.8% DM vs. 25.2% DM for Leucaena leucocephala) and a low NDF (25.9% DM). It was moderately rich in AD lignin (10.6% DM), and high in condensed tanins (8.3% DM) and insoluble ash (2.0% DM) (Ramirez et al., 2000; Ramirez et al., 2001). Empty pods contain much less protein (9% DM) than the whole plant or the leaves (Keoghan, 1980).

Unlike Leucaena, Desmanthus virgatus does not contain mimosine and therefore can be fed safely to non-ruminants (Gutteridge et al., 1994).

Potential constraints

Hedge lucerne, unlike Leucaena leucocephala, does not contain mimosine or other toxicants (Gutteridge et al., 1994). However, it contains significant amounts of tannins (Adjei, 1995; Ramirez et al., 2001).

Ruminants

Hedge lucerne is non-toxic to ruminants and is used for both fodder and grazing (Göhl, 1982). The high condensed tannins content of Desmanthus species can prevent bloat (Cook et al., 2005).

Palatability

Desmanthus virgatus is palatable to ruminants. It has been observed to be less palatable than leucaena but more readily eaten than Stylosanthes scabra. Its relative palatability depends on the variety or accession (Cook et al., 2005).

Nutritive and feeding values

In vivo DM and N digestibility in cattle fed Desmanthus virgatus leaf meal has been reported to be low: 48 and 44%, respectively (Göhl, 1982), though a higher DM digestibility has also been reported (55%) (Kharat et al., 1980). In sacco effective degradability of NDF was also low (36%) (Ramirez et al., 2000).

Sheep

There is little published information on the use of Desmanthus virgatus in ruminants. A DM intake of 5% of body weight was reported for Desmanthus virgatus fodder in sheep, and the authors concluded that it was a potential leguminous fodder source for small ruminants (Radhakrishnan et al., 2007). In Australia, preliminary research suggests that sown Desmanthus virgatus could fulfill the role of Stylosanthes species in the Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp.) bioregion of Western Queensland: 200 g/d of hedge lucerne hay added to 600 g/d of Astrebla hay had beneficial effects on wool growth, DM intake, ME intake, N intake and weight loss. The relatively high protein content and the sulphur content (0.36% DM) could be beneficial to wool production (Rangel et al., 2009).

Pigs

There is a paucity of literature on the use of hedge lucerne in pig feeding. While the absence of mimosine should make Desmanthus virgatus safer than Leucaena for monogastric animals, one attempt to feed pigs with sun-dried leaves (17% in the diet DM) reported extremely low OM, NDF and N digestibilities (37, 30 and 2% respectively) and the authors concluded that hedge lucerne leaf meal was unsuitable as an alternative protein source for pigs, unless methods to increase its nutritive value were developed (Ly et al., 2001).

Poultry

The nutritional value of hedge lucerne leaf meal in poultry is low, as reported for most leaf meals (D'Mello, 1995). An ME value of 5.6 MJ/kg was reported, but when taking this value into account for feed formulation, performance of layers was maintained up to 6% incorporation in diets while enhancing egg yolk coloration (Buakeeree, 2002; Suksombat et al., 2006).

The use of seeds from a related species (Desmanthus illinoensis) in broilers resulted in depressed performance, even at 5% inclusion level, and is therefore not advisable (Jacob, 2007).

Rabbits

Fresh foliage

Fresh hedge lucerne foliage is used classically in different countries such as India (Tamil Nadu province) or Ghana, as green forage in addition to a concentrate generally provided at a limited level, for growing rabbits or for breeding does (Apori et al., 2014; Pasupathi, 2013; Sivakumar et al., 2013). Hedge lucerne is consequently used as reference forage in studies assessing other potential forages (Karu et al., 2020; Pasupathi et al., 2017; Pasupathi et al., 2015; Singh et al., 2007). In such comparisons, hedge lucerne foliage has higher growth rate than Leucaena leucocephala or Artocarpus heterophyllus leaves, but similar to that of berseem (Trifolium alexendrinum), groundnut hay (Arachis hypogea); sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea), Gliciridia macula leaves, mango (Mangifera indica) leaves or mulberry leaves (Karu et al, 2020; Premalatha et al., 2012; Reddy at al., 1993; Rao et al., 1986).
With a concentrate provided at 50 g to 70 g per head and per day to growing rabbits the spontaneous intake of fresh hedge lucerne foliage distributed ad libitum represents generally 35 to 50% of the daily dry a matter intake (Pasupathi et al., 2017; Premalata et al., 2012). However, in some experimental studies, hedge lucerne foliage was used as only feed with acceptable growth performance (Jegatheesan et al., 2006).

Hedge lucerne may be fed to rabbits, alone or in combination with pelleted feed or commercial mash, without altering their health parameters (Jegatheesan et al., 2006). Hedge lucerne resulted in greater weight gains than agati (Sesbania grandiflora), Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and Tridax daisy (Tridax procumbens) when it supplemented a concentrate feed (Singh et al., 2007).
Used with a concentrate, the nutritive value of fresh hedge lucerne leaves can be estimated as 9.0 Mj/kg DM and protein digestibility as 57.7% (Lebas, 2016).

Hay

Hedge lucerne hay can be successfully included in compound feeds (Ferreira et al., 2019; Reddy et al., 1993; Rao et al., 1986). It has however, very low protein digestibility, in relation with a non-enzymatic browning during drying (Lowry et al., 1992).

Nutritional tables

Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

Hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus), aerial part, fresh

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Dry matter	% as fed	35.2		32.0	38.3	2
Crude protein	% DM	15.8	3.5	11.5	22.8	9
Crude fibre	% DM	34.0	11.0	17.6	41.1	4
NDF	% DM	46.7		32.5	60.9	2
ADF	% DM	37.0		20.5	53.4	2
Lignin	% DM	13.1		7.0	19.3	2
Ether extract	% DM	3.0	0.8	2.4	4.2	4
Ash	% DM	6.4	1.4	4.9	8.9	9
Gross energy	MJ/kg DM	19.3					*

Minerals	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Calcium	g/kg DM	16.5	11.8	2.6	40.5	8
Phosphorus	g/kg DM	3.3	1.6	2.1	5.2	3
Potassium	g/kg DM	19.9		17.4	22.3	2
Sodium	g/kg DM	0.8				1
Magnesium	g/kg DM	8.5		5.0	12.0	2

Secondary metabolites	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Tannins (eq. tannic acid)	g/kg DM	73.5				1
Tannins, condensed (eq. catechin)	g/kg DM	0.0				1

Ruminant nutritive values	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant	%	61.2					*
Energy digestibility, ruminants	%	58.5					*
DE ruminants	MJ/kg DM	11.3					*
ME ruminants	MJ/kg DM	9.0					*
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants	%	44.0				1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Barnes, 1998; CIRAD, 1991; Nasrullah et al., 2003; Work, 1938

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:08

Hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus), seeds

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Dry matter	% as fed	93.2	0.8	92.3	94.6	6
Crude protein	% DM	28.0	4.0	20.6	31.3	6
Ether extract	% DM	1.9	0.3	1.6	2.4	6
Ash	% DM	3.8	0.3	3.5	4.4	6

Minerals	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Calcium	g/kg DM	2.5	0.4	1.9	2.9	6
Phosphorus	g/kg DM	4.3	0.7	3.6	5.2	6
Potassium	g/kg DM	9.0	0.4	8.4	9.5	6
Sodium	g/kg DM	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	6
Magnesium	g/kg DM	2.7	0.2	2.4	3.0	6
Manganese	mg/kg DM	66	18	47	89	6
Zinc	mg/kg DM	50	5	47	61	6
Copper	mg/kg DM	13	4	8	18	6
Iron	mg/kg DM	87	26	67	135	6

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Schlink et al., 1993

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:45:33

References

Adjei, M. B., 1995. Component forage yield and quality of grass-legume cropping systems in the Caribbean. Trop. Grassl., 29: 142-149
Apori, S. O.; Hagan, J. K.; Osei, D., 2014. The growth and reproductive performance of different breeds of rabbits kept under warm and humid environments in Ghana. Online J. Anim. Feed Res., 4(3): 51-59
Barnes, P., 1998. Fodder production of some shrubs and trees under two harvest intervals in subhumid southern Ghana. Agroforestry Systems, 42: 139-147
Brandon, N. J. ; Date, R. A. ; Clem, R. L. ; Robertson, B. A. ; Graham, T. W. G., 1998. Growth responses of Desmanthus virgatus to inoculation with rhizobium strain CB 3126. II. A field trial at 4 sites in south-east Queensland. Trop. Grassl., 32: 20-27
Buakeeree, K., 2002. The study of yield and nutritive value of hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus) and utilization of hedge lucerne meal as protein supplement in layer diets. Ph.D. dissertation, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand
Cook, B. G.; Pengelly, B. C.; Brown, S. D.; Donnelly, J. L.; Eagles, D. A.; Franco, M. A. ; Hanson, J.; Mullen, B. F.; Partridge, I. J.; Peters, M.; Schultze-Kraft, R., 2005. Tropical forages. CSIRO, DPI&F(Qld), CIAT and ILRI, Brisbane, Australia
Cruz, S. E. S. B. ; Beelen, P. M. G. ; Silva, D. S. ; Pereira, W. E. ; Beelen, R. ; Beltrao, F. S., 2007. Characterization of condensed tannin of the species manicoba (Manihot pseudoglaziovii), flor-de-seda (Calotropis procera), feijao-bravo (Capparis flexuosa) and jureminha (Desmanthus virgatus). Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec., 59 (4): 1038-1044
D'Mello, J. P. F., 1995. Leguminous leaf meals in non-ruminant nutrition. In: Tropical Legumes in Animal Nutrition. J.P.F. D'Mello and C. Devendra, Eds. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
Ecocrop, 2010. Ecocrop database. FAO
FAO, 2010. Grassland Index. A searchable catalogue of grass and forage legumes. FAO, Rome, Italy
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Francis, J. K., 2004. Desmanthus virgatus. In: Wildland Shrubs of the United States and its Territories: Thamnic Descriptions. General Technical Report IITF-WB-1. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. International Institute of Tropical Forestry and Shrub Sciences Laboratory
Göhl, B., 1982. Les aliments du bétail sous les tropiques. FAO, Division de Production et Santé Animale, Roma, Italy
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Jacob, J. P., 2007. Evaluation of Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) for broiler chicks. J. Appl. Poult. Res., 16: 39-44
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Pasupathi, K.; Gopi, H.; Babu, M.; Muthusamy, P., 2015. Growth performance of rabbits on tree leaves included complete extruded feed. World Vet. J., 5 (2): 19-22
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Pasupathi, K., 2013. Levels of cabbage waste on the performance of broiler rabbits. Doctoral dissertation, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, India
Pengelly, B.C. ; Topark-Ngarm, A., 1992. Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd.. Record from Proseabase. Mannetje, L.'t and Jones, R.M. (Editors). PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia.
Premalatha, N.; Saravanakumar, V. R.; Sivakumar, K.; Jagatheesan, P. N.; Ramesh, V., 2012. Growth and carcass characteristics of soviet chinchilla rabbits fed mulberry and hedge lucerne leaves . Indian J. Small Rum., 18 (1): 85-89
Radhakrishnan, L. ; Murugan, M. ; Sivakumar, T., 2007. Biomass yield, chemical composition and nutritive value of Desmanthus virgatus (hedge lucerne) for sheep. Anim. Nutr. Feed Technol., 7 (1): 119-123
Ramirez, R. G. ; Neira-Morales, R. R. ; Ledezma-Torres, R. A. ; Garibaldi-Gonzalez, C. A., 2000. Ruminal digestion characteristics and effective degradability of cell wall of browse species from northeastern Mexico. Small Rumin. Res., 36 (1): 49-55
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Rangel, J. H. de A. ; Gardiner, C. P., 2009. Stimulation of wool growth by Desmanthus spp. as a supplement to a diet of Mitchell grass hay. Trop. Grassl., 43 (2): 106-111
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Reddy, G. V. N., Reddy, M. R., 1993. Utilization of non conventional forages by rabbits. Indian J. Anim. Nutr., 10 (3): 147-151
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Work, S. H., 1938. Digestibility of Hawaiian feeding stuffs. Ann. Rep. Hawaii agric. Exp. Stn, 65

Datasheet citation

Heuzé V., Tran G., Sauvant D., Bastianelli D., Lebas F., 2021. Hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/307 Last updated on February 4, 2021, 16:36

English correction by Tim Smith (Animal Science consultant) and Hélène Thiollet (AFZ)

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Hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus)