»Integrated Green Manure Farming with any Crops | Sunn Hemp Fodder Farming«
Sunn Hemp is a great growing leguminous crop cultivated for green manure as well as fibre crop. This plant prevents soil erosion and loss of nutrients and also conserves soil moisture.
It can be grown in adverse climatic conditions like drought, alkalinity, and salinity. Within 60-90 days it can produce up to 120 pounds of nitrogen per acre and can suppress weeds up to 90%. Sunn Hemp is not just a soil builder, it also offers benefits as a livestock forage producer. It is a branched erect , herbaceous annual growing plant. It has well developed root system.
Soil requirements
Sunn Hemp can be cultivated in all types of well drained soils. Their are many varieties but Narendra Sanai and PAU are the best varieties. Narendra Sanai will be ready to harvest in 152 days. Leaves are broad and green. Flowers are yellow and seeds are brown and blackish in colour.
PAU 1961 will be ready to harvest in 136 days. Leaves are medium size, green in colour, flowers are yellow and seeds are brown and blackish in colour.
Land preparation
If you are growing Sunn Hemp as a secondary crop, then soil preparation is not required. If you are growing it as a primary crop then to bring soil fine silt, plough land properly.
Sunn Hemp can be sown in any season. For green manure use a seed rate of 20kg per acre and for seed purposes use seed rate of 10kg per acre. Put sunn hemp seed in a fibre bag and tie it tightly. Before sowing soak the seeds overnight in water for better germination. Now the seed is ready to sow.
Fertilizer requirements
If you are growing Sunn Hemp for manure, no need to apply fertilizer. If you are growing it for seed or fibre, apply phosphorous sulphate 16kg per acre. Nitrogen is not given. If you are growing it as a secondary crop then special care is not required. It will take water from the primary plant.
When grown for seed or fibre, it requires 2-3 irrigations per week depending on weather conditions. For grain purposes, harvesting is carried out 150 days after sowing. Harvest and burry the plant in the soil.
