Abstract
Thirty-eight sesbanias were studied for their potential use as green manure; they could broadly be classified into two categories - annuals and tree types. The annuals accumulated more biomass and their maturity period was shorter (180-270 days) than the tree types, which were comparatively slow growing. The dry matter and N accumulation at the 30 day growth stage was compared in the sesbanias. Sesbania aculeata CSSRI (# 17 of the 38), Sesbania sp. PLSe 17(# 15) and Sesbania sp. NBPGR (# 16) were more efficient in dry-matter accumulation than the others. The N content ranged from 1.96% for S. speciosa (# 36) to 4.84 % for Sesbania sp. PLSe 16 (# 14). All except one, Sesbania sp. 'Canning' (# 01), nodulated in response to wild-type rhizobia of the soil. Six of the sesbanias were used in a field trial for the study of N content trends and for N and biomass accumulation with age. Annuals such as S. aculeata CSSRI and Sesbania sp. PLSe 17 could contribute about 70 kg N ha-1 at 45 days' growth and about 100 kg N ha-1 at 57 days growth.
