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Robert L. Kolberg |
Joyce L.A. Eckhoff |
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USDA-ARS
Sidney, Montana |
MSU-EARC
Sidney, Montana |
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 Sunnhemp is a native of Pakistan and India, where it is often used as a
green manure crop, since it is a legume and can fix nitrogen. Interest
in this country has been focused on growing it as a fiber crop. The
fibers of the stem can be used in the manufacture of high quality paper
and pulp. It has a low nitrogen requirement and the ability to grow in
marginal soils. It is also drought tolerant and may have some affect
against certain types of nematodes. This makes sunnhemp attractive as a
rotational crop. The plants typically grow 3 to 9 feet tall. For green
manure, sunnhemp is usually grown under high moisture conditions. |
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There continues to be an increasing world demand for pulp fiber, which
has increased the price of wood-based fiber as forest reserves continue
to dwindle. This has stimulated interest in non-wood,
agriculturally-based fiber crops. New uses such as specialty papers,
soil-less potting media and fuel are becoming increasingly attractive.
An evaluation of yield under different seeding rates was done on
irrigated land located north of the USDA-ARS lab in Sidney in
cooperation with the Montana State University experiment station (EARC). |
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Site
Description |
| Soil
classification: |
fine
montmorillonitic Typic Argilboroll (Savage silty clay) |
| Plot size: |
20 ft. long x
8 rows wide (24 in. rows) 3 replications |
| Treatments: |
Plant
populations or seeding rate -20, 30 & 40 lbs/ac seed |
| Variety: |
"Tropic Sun" |
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Field
Operations |
| 1998 |
Planting: |
May 21 |
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Irrigation: |
twice |
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Biomass
Sampling: |
September 30 |
| 1999 |
Planting: |
May 13 |
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Irrigation: |
July 28 & August 10 |
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Biomass
Sampling: |
October 6 |
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Plot Data |
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1998 |
1999 |
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Seeding rate |
TDM
yield |
Moisture |
TDM
yield |
Moisture |
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lb/ac
(kg/ha) |
lb/ac
(kg/ha) |
% |
lb/ac
(kg/ha) |
% |
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20
(22.4) |
6890
(7740) |
69.2 |
3600
(4050) |
57.3 |
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30
(33.6) |
8030
(9020) |
69.0 |
4270
(4800) |
57.5 |
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40
(44.8) |
7340
(8250) |
69.1 |
4370
(4910) |
60.5 |
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TDM = total dry matter
(above-ground) |
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 Being
of semi-tropical origin, sunnhemp requires significant heat units to grow
well. Good growth did not occur until mid- to late June. Less heat
units were received in 1999, which accounted for the reduced yield. In order
to flower and set seed, sunnhemp requires short days. With its long days,
Sidney is too far north for sunnhemp to set seed although a few flowers did
appear, which have the characteristic shape of the pea family. Currently
sources of sunnhemp seed are limited, which makes present seed costs quite
high. |
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USDA-ARS-NPARL
P.O. Box 463 Sidney, MT 59270 PH: 406.433.2020 FAX: 406.433.5038
For accessibility
questions or other concerns, please e-mail: webmaster[at]sidney.ars.usda.gov
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