EFFECT OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF RESIDUAL WATE RS ON THE GROWTH OF LEUCAENA-LEUCOCEPHALA

An experiment was carried out in ''Palmichal S.C.'' Experimental stati on, located in El Hornito, at Miranda county of Zulia state, character ized as Very Dry Tropical Forest, with 445 mm of precipitation and ave rage annual temperature of 29 degrees C in order to evaluate the effec t of different levels of residual water on the growth of Leucaena leuc ocephala in nursery conditions. The levels of residual water evaluated were: 0% 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The experimental design was complete ly at random with 20 replications. Results showed that height of plant s stalk diameter at the base and branches were affected (P<0.01) by ev aluation periods, observing an increase of this variable, with the pla nt's development The various levels of residual waters, influenced the variables under study, finding an increase in the height of the plant with concentrations between an increment in height 75% 50% (26.28 cm) and 100% (27.11 cm) and numbers of branches with levels of 25% (42.80 ) and 50% (41.29), while stalk diameter at the base decreased signific antly (P<0.05) with levels of 75% and 100%, with 4.64 and 4.95 mm resp ectively.