Seed production of Sesbania rostrata and Aeschynomene afraspera on paddy fields.
1992
Herrera W.T. | Garrity D.P.
Seed lack seriously limits green manure (GM) usage in most farms. Research on this agronomic problem has been almost nil. A study was initiated at IRRI to quantify the seed production potential of two promising GM species, Sesbania rostrata and Aeschynomene afraspera, when intercropped with transplanted rice, or when grown along paddy bunds. Aeschynomene intercrops were less competitive to rice than Sesbania. Its average grain yield at 5000 plants/ha was 0.86 t/ha, regardless of planting material used (whole plant, top, or basal stem cuttings). To avoid significant rice yield reduction, Sesbania density had to be low (1250 to 2500 plants/ha), with an average seed yield of 0.81 t/ha. When transplanted in a single line along the bunds, the GM plants did not affect overall rice yields. Whole seedlings, with or without pruning of the canopy, and basal cuttings without any pruning, transplanted at 3 plants/line arm of bund, gave the highest Sesbania seed yields (184 g/m length of bund) with no significant effect on the rice. Aeschynomene yielded highest with whole plants or basal cuttings at high population and no pruning done. Its mean yield was 150 g/m of bund. To produce 30 kg of seeds recommended for establishing a satisfactory GM stand on one hectare, a total bund length of 163 m is needed for Sesbania and 192 m for Aeschynomene. Growing the GM crops along the bund for seed production appeared more practical than intercropping them with rice.
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