Soil pH should always be tested and nutrient levels amended as required to promote growth and flowering. Generally, the elements of importance are nitrogen for growth and phosphorus for flowering. However, a deficiency of any marco or micro-nutrient can effect seed production. Orchards should be established with planting material of high quality. Containerized seedlings have worked well in most tropical conditions.
Weed control is very important and can be achieved through chemical, mechanical or manual means.
Planting seedlings of high quality and reducing weed competition are the first steps to developing a successful seed orchard. Tree spacing in a seed orchard is wider than timber plantations or agroforestry plantings. Actual spacing will be determined by the canopy shape and size of each specific species. For Leucaena and Gliricidia a final spacing of 4 x 4 meters is recommended. After a few years inferior trees are removed to achieve the desired spacing.