Growth characteristics of Sesbania species under adverse edaphic conditions in relation to use as green manure in Japan

Abstract

Edaphic-stress tolerance of three Sesbania species, Sesbania rostrata, S. cannabina, and S. speciosa was evaluated in terms of growth. Plants exhibited the most vigorous growth in August, the hottest days in Japan, while in July and September, the growth decreased by 30 to 80%; S. speciosa showed the strictest requirement for temperature. When the medium pH was 3.5, S. cannabina was the most tolerant to low pH. At pH 8, growth was reduced to 60% for all the species. S. speciosa appeared to be less sensitive to Al (1 mol m-3). Copper (1.6 and 6.4 mmol m-3) damaged plants irrespective of species. S. speciosa was less sensitive and S. cannabina slightly sensitive to drought. S. rostrata yielded 16.8 Mg ha-1dry matter in 13 weeks under field conditions, with 426 kg nitrogen ha-1in the aerial parts. Timing of seed sowing was the determinant for a higher biomass production. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.