Daincha Seeds - Natural Green Manure Seed

Daincha Seeds (Sesbania Bispinosa): Enhancing Rice Cultivation Through Green Manuring

Daincha Seeds, also known as Prickly Sesban or Sesbania Bispinosa, plays a crucial role in enhancing rice cultivation, especially under flood-prone lowland conditions. This green manure practice is widely adopted in irrigated puddle-transplanted systems to improve soil fertility and crop productivity.

Key Insights:

• Cultivation Scenario: In flood-prone lowlands, rice is often established through direct seeding early in the season. Flooding typically occurs after 1–2 months of crop growth following regular rains.

• Challenges Addressed: Low yields in such conditions are often attributed to poor crop stands and challenges in nitrogen management, especially under higher water depths.

Research Findings:

• Effectiveness of Dhaincha: Studies conducted at Cuttack, India, evaluated the impact of green manuring with Dhaincha intercropped with direct-seeded rice compared to conventional practices of incorporating pure Dhaincha before transplanting.

• Nitrogen Accumulation: Dhaincha was found to accumulate significant nitrogen levels, ranging from 80–86 kg N ha−1 when grown in pure stands to 58–79 kg N ha−1 when intercropped with direct-seeded rice in alternate rows, by the 50th day of growth.

• Crop Benefits: Green manuring with Dhaincha significantly improved rice growth. After uprooting and burying Dhaincha between rice rows (typically when water depth was 10–20 cm), rice plants showed improved panicle weight and comparable or higher grain yields compared to recommended urea applications.

Conclusion:

Dhaincha emerges as a sustainable solution for enhancing soil fertility, nitrogen management, and overall crop yield in flood-prone lowland rice cultivation. Its integration as a green manure not only enriches soil health but also supports sustainable agricultural practices.