[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: Identity of Dhaincha solved (it's a _Sesbania_)



> Thanks to everyone who replied to my request for help in identifying
> the mysterious "dhaincha".  From the context of the original reference
> that stared the chase, there is no doubt dhaincha is a sesbania.  


Ian et al--
   Well I'll be a Leprachaun, dhaincha is indeed sesbania and 
not  crotalaria.  I'd say I was off base by at least a genus  :-) 
Thanks for posting the correct information.  

I've done some investigation for farmers looking at alternative 
green manures and fiber crops such as sesbania and crotalaria and 
also have several sources to offer on sesbania.  Both are more 
widely used in India than here in the U.S.  

Literature sources on sesbania: 
 
Whyte, R.O., et al.  1953.  Legumes in Agriculture.  FAO 
Agricultural Studies No. 21.  Food and Agriculture Organization,
Rome.  p. 321-322.

Ghai, S.K., et al.  1985.  Comparative study of the potential 
of sesbanias for green manuring.  Tropical Agriculture 
(Trinidad) 62(1): 52-56.

Evans, Dale O., and Peter P. Rotar.  1987.  Productivity of 
Sesbania species.  Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad) 64(3): 
193-200.

Also:

Duke, James A.  1983.  Handbook of World Legumes of 
Economic Importance.  Plenum Press, New York.  p. 216-219.
 
Duke lists "danchi" as one of the common names for S. bispinosa,
and one of his references is titled "Composition of dhanchia 
fiber (Sesbania aculeata).  Science Cult. 39(10): 473-474.

Also:

Yost, R., and D. Evans.  1988.  Green Manures and Legume 
Covers in the Tropics.  Hawaii Agricultural Experiment 
Station.  Hitahr College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
Resources.  Research Series 055.  44 p.

"In India, it is commonly called "dhaincha."

Also:

Dr. Robert Bugg at UC-Davis has done work with sesbania (and 
other cover crops) as insectary habitat for beneficial insects.

"Grown as a summer green manure, Sesbania (S. axaltata) often
harbors cowpea aphid and bandedwingend whitefly, and has proven
useful for retaining lady beetles when pecan aphids become
depleted."

"May enhance biological control through providing alternate 
prey.  Harbored bandedwinged white fly and relatively high
densisites of cowpea aphid."

Bugg, R.L., and J.D. Dutcher.  1989.  Warm-season cover crops
for pecan orchards:  Horticultural and entomological 
implications.  Biol. Agric. Hort. 6: 123-148.

Steve Diver
Fayetteville, AR


> Reference:  
> 
> Evans, D.O. and Rotar, P.P. (1987) "Sesbania in Agriculture" 
> (Westview Press, Boulder & London) Pp. xiii+192.
> 
> To quote:  "Because of the ability of _Sesbania_ species to grow in heavy
> soils, withstand waterlogging and flooding, and tolerate soil salinity,
> they are often the preferred green manure crop for rice.  'Dhaincha',
> the common name of the species used in India, is often designated as 
> _S. aculeata_ which was revised to _S. bispinosa_.  The name _S. cannabina_
> is usually given for the annual sesbania used in China, and is occasionally
> used by Indian writers."  (p. 27)
> 
> E&R go on to say that there appears to be confusion in the naming of these
> three species, plus _S. sericea_.  They received seed under all these names
> and the plants were similar in morphological and agronomic characteristics
> when grown in Hawaii.  Botanical specimens sent to the Royal Botanic Gardens
> at Kew, England, were all named as _S. cannabina_ (by one G.P. Lewis).
> 
> Going on the above and other sources, there seems little doubt that the name
> _S. aculeata_ Pers. is now regarded as synonymous with the correct name 
> _S. bispinosa_ (Jacq.) Wight.  And _S. cannabina_ may actually be the same
> species too, in which case I don't know which name would take precedence :)
> -- 
> 
> Ian Staples                        E-mail : ianst@dpi.qld.gov.au
> c/- P.O. Box 1054 MAREEBA          Phone  : +61 (0)70 921 555 Home 924 847
> Queensland Australia 4880            Fax  : +61 (0)70 923 593   "   "   "
> 


Fri 26 Nov 93 11:50
By: Daniel Cohen
Re: SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS

          UNITED STATES IMPORTS MOST OF ITS SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS

Shiitake mushroom production in the United States reached 2.7 million pounds 
in 1991-1992, says a fact sheet published by USDA Small-Scale Agricultural
Alternatives.  The United States imports 14,000 metric tons of dried Shiitakes
annually, nearly 100 times its current fresh production.

A 13-minute video, "Growing Shiitake Mushrooms," is available for $10. from
Extension/Research, NCA&T University, PO Box 21928, Greensboro, NC 27420.

  Source: Maine Agricultural Report, Maine Dept. of Ag., Sept. 10, 1993
                                 *
Excerpted from Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener (MOFGA), Nov/Dec 1993.
For more information on MOFGA:

                                MOFGA
                             PO Box 2176
                           283 Water Street
                     Farrell Building (Fourth Floor)
                         Augusta, Maine  04338
                         (Voice: 207-622-3118)

 * Origin: The Daily Planet - Maui, HI (808) 572-4857 (1:345/111 FidoNet)