Abstract

Dhaincha (Sesbania spp.), a multipurpose quick-growing, succulent and easily decomposable herb, is an ideal green manure crop. Shoot cutting at a specific height or time might be one of the options for the biomass yield maximization. To evaluate the influence of shoot cutting on morphological and reproductive descriptors and biomass yield, an experiment was carried out with eight dhaincha accessions representing three Sesbania species viz. S. bispinosa (Acc #5, 71, 77 and 103), S. cannabina (Acc #25, 28) and S. sesban (Acc #82 and 85). The experiment was laid out on factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The cutting operation was performed at 25 cm above the ground level at 8, 9 and 10 weeks after sowing (WAS). The results revealed that cutting time had a significant effect on biomass yield and other descriptors; and showed a decreasing trend with delay in cutting treatments. The biomass yield ascended to 37% in cutting at 8 WAS than the uncut control plants. Among the species, S. bispinosa responded positively (increase in biomass yield and other descriptors) to the cutting treatments, however, S. cannabina and S. sesban responded negatively. Accession #77 produced the highest fresh weight (340 g 10–1 plants) and biomass yield (190 g 10–1 plants) in cutting at 8 WAS and accession #82 and 85 produced the lowest biomass yield in cutting at 10 WAS. The optimum cutting time would be 8 WAS to produce higher biomass of dhaincha. Among the accessions, #77 may be recommended to cultivate as a green manure crop due to its higher biomass yield.

Key words: Plant age, Cutting height, Morphological descriptors, Reproductive descriptors, Total dry mass