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sunn hemp
Scientific Name: Crotalaria juncea
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea)
Sunn hemp, scientifically known as Crotalaria juncea, is also commonly referred to as brown hemp, Indian hemp, or Madras hemp. It is a versatile plant with a range of applications, from fiber production to soil improvement.
Considerations for Pets
- The genus Crotalaria includes some species known to be toxic to animals.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Crotalaria juncea L.
- Common Names: Sunn hemp, brown hemp, Indian hemp, Madras hemp, sann-hemp, sunn crotalaria, sunn-hemp, Chanvre indien (French). Other names include kk'tung (Cambodia), shu ma, and tai yang ma (Taiwan).
- Family: Fabaceae (Legume family)
- Sub-order: Paplionaceae
Distribution and Habitat
Sunn hemp is a tropical Asian plant widely distributed throughout the tropics, particularly in eastern and central India. It is cultivated in all states of India as a fibre and green manure crop.
Ecological Role
- Sunn hemp is gaining popularity as a green manure due to its rapid growth and nitrogen-fixing capabilities. It is used in many tropical and subtropical areas as an organic nitrogen source.
- It can produce significant biomass (over 5,000 pounds per acre) and nitrogen (over 100 pounds per acre) when grown as a summer annual.
- Sunn hemp is often used as a cover crop for reclaiming poor land and restoring depleted soils.
- It is used in crop rotation with sugar cane and as a green fertilizer for perennial crops such as citrus, orange, mango, and passion fruit.
- Research suggests it can control root-knot nematodes and improve soil structure.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Sunn hemp is a rapidly growing crop, often reaching upwards of 6 feet tall within 60 days of planting.
- It has bright yellow flowers that bloom approximately 60 days after planting.
- 'Tropic Sun' sunn hemp is an erect, branching annual legume. Plants are generally unbranched from the ground to about 2 feet (60 cm).
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Sunn hemp has been studied for its non-target effects on soil invertebrates.
Quirky Facts
- Papers are made from sunn hemp fibre using a chapri paper mould made from grass stems strung together in a matting, which imparts a distinctive texture to the sheet.
Further Information
- University of Hawaii fact sheets and virtual field days explain how to use sunn hemp as a cover crop.
- Reference is made to Gaby Stoll's book "Natural Crop Protection on Local."