Comparative biomass production and nitrogen accumulation of asexually propagated Sesbania rostrata in lowland rice soils.
1988
Rosales R.T. | Lazaro W. | Mamaril C.P.
Green manures such as Sesbania rostrata has been identified to be a good supplementary source of nutrients particularly N for lowland rice. A major constraint however, that farmers encounter in adopting S. rostrata for green manuring in lowland rice is the availability and cost of seeds. Being photoperiod sensitive, S. rostrata do not bear enough pods when planted during months with long daylengths. Pods are difficult to prime when plants grow very tall and do not mature at the same time. Seed viability also deteriorates easily under ordinary storage conditions. Hence, a preliminary trial was conducted at IRRI [International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines], during April-June 1987 to test the feasibility of propagating S. rostrata asexually. Shoot cuttings of S. rostrata (about 30 cm) containing 3-5 nodes were planted in an upright position in a flooded lowland soil, at a row spacing of 1 m and 12-15 cm between hills. Three 1-linear meter row samples were taken at 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after planting to determine the plant height, fresh and dry matter biomass and subsamples were taken for N content analysis. Results obtained showed a fresh biomass of 2.8, 8.7, 26.8, and 41.7 t/ha at 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after planting, respectively. Similarly, nitrogen accumulation were 15, 60, 93, and 193 kg N/ha for the different ages after planting. These results showed that S. rostrata can be grown successfully by means of stem cuttings under lowland field conditions.
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