Thiol Compounds, Pre-Conditioning and Orientation of Explants – Important Factors Affecting Regeneration from Cotyledons of Legume Crop Sesbania Aculeata

Sesbania aculeata is a multipurpose legume crop grown primarily for green manuring in the rice-based cropping system. Besides this, it is an industrial crop and is also used as food in many parts of the world. The present work reports for optimization of various parameters (growth medium, plant growth regulators, pre-conditioning, orientation of explant, and presence of thiol compounds) affecting in vitro regeneration using mature cotyledon explants. The 5-day-old mature cotyledon explants excised from seedlings grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts and Gamborg (B5) vitamins medium containing 15 μM 6-benzylaminopurine were cultured with its adaxial side facing on medium containing 2.5 μM 6-benzylaminopurine and 50 mg/L thiourea and produced multiple shoots (7 ‒ 8) in 100% cultures within 28 days. Healthy shoots were rooted on half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts and full-strength vitamins medium augmented with 2.5 μM indole-3-butyric acid.

Performance of Different Green Manuring Crops in Bangladesh

An experiment was conducted at Sher-e-bangla Agricultural University during May to July, 2016 to examine the morpho-physical potentiality of eight green manure species and these species are viz. Sesbania aculeata, Sesbania rostrata, Crotalaria juncea, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna mungo, Vigna radiata, Leucaena leucocephala and Mimosa pudica. Leaves number, biomass production and nodulation are an important character of any green manuring crops as these crops are very potential for increasing soil fertility after incorporation. The growth habits of these species were studied from 15 DAS to 45DAS whereas dry matter/plant and nodulation data were taken from 25 DAS to 50DAS. At 45DAS, Sesbania aculeata, Sesbania rostrata and Vigna unguiculata shown 53% to 149% higher plant height compared to Vigna mungo, although C. juncea performed better at 30DAS compared to V. unguiculata. Again, C. juncea along with S. rostrata and S. aculeata gave the highest fresh biomass (24% to 72%), dry biomass (2.6t/ha to 5.25t/ha), dry matter plant-1 (60% to 83%) and nodulation compared to rest green manures at 45DAS whereas V. unguiculata produced higher dry matter plant-1 at 20DAS but later it declined insignificantly at 50DAS.The lowest performance was observed from V. mungo followed by V. radiata and M. pudica. It was shown that S. rostrata, S. aculeata, C. juncea, V. unguiculata and L.leucocephala performed better regarding biomass, dry matter and nodule production. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.8(1): 25-31, April 2021

Sesbania aculeata a Cost Effective Alternative to Enhance the Soil Health and Productivity of Rice-Wheat System

Background: Cereal based cropping systems are predominantly followed in south Asia because of higher productivity and profitability and ensuring food security. Rice is grown once a year in rotation mainly with wheat. Continuous cultivation of rice results in the formation of a hard pan below the ploughing layer, which may act as a barrier to normal root growth of the subsequent wheat crop. Consequently, soil bulk density is increased and hydraulic conductivity is reduced thus leading to non-conducive soil physical characteristics for the subsequent wheat crop. To reduce these ill effects, FYM is used as organic source. But live stock population is not increasing in the ratio as it is required to meet the FYM demand. Organic source requirement cannot meet through use of FYM in rice-wheat system, which is vital for food security point of view. There is need of alternate cost effective source of FYM which could enhance the soil health as well as productivity of rice-wheat system. The present study aimed to see the efficacy of growing green manure crop (Sesbania aculeata) as an alternative of FYM in the rice-wheat rotation. Methods: In this experiment conducted during kharif and rabi seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 in on-going long term permanent manorial trial since 1984 at research farm (Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar, India), twelve treatments were taken under RBD in four replications. Observations and analysis were carried out by following the standard procedures. Result: The present investigation showed that combination of inorganic fertilizer and Sesbania aculeata helped in increasing yield as well as improving soil health. Sesbania aculeata can be used as a viable and cost effective alternative through partial substitution of inorganic fertilizers to enhance the soil health and productivity of rice-wheat system.