Taxonomic Characterisation and Economic importance of Lesser known Green manure Crop Sesbania cannabina Poir

Now-a-days, the use of organic manures has been overlooked in favour of chemical fertilizers. Interest in green manures has also been revived because of the continuously increasing concern for maintaining long-term soil productivity and ecological sustainability. This interest has led to the identification of lesser known legume plants that have green manuring potential, e.g. Sesbania cannabina. Sesbania has vigorous growth and is adapted to various adverse climatic conditions. Sesbania species fix nitrogen, and produce large no of root nodules for this purpose. Thus, it provides low-cost nitrogen inputs incrop production system. Sesbania cannabina is a multipurpose annual plant which can serve as a green manure, green leaf manure, a biofertilizer and is a good companion crop for wetland rice cultivation. It grows well under water logged or unirrigated conditions, tolerant to high temperatures (36-44°C), high soil alkalinity (pH 10) and establishes during rainy season in a wide variety of soils such as loamy, clayey, black and sandy soils. Sesbania species can play an important role in long-term maintenance of soil fertility and productivity.