Sesbania rostrata
Sesbania rostrata
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,600 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 35°c[1]. It grows best at temperatures above 25°c[2]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 3,500mm, but tolerates 600 - 5,000mm[1]. Requires a sunny position[1]. The plant occurs naturally on periodically flooded or water-logged, deep clayey alluvial soils, it can tolerate flooding to a depth of 1 metre[3, 2]. It can be grown on freely drained, moist soils in cultivation, but will then require more rainfall than it obtains in nature[2]. Adapted to poorly drained and flooded soils of at least moderate fertility[2]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 8.5[1]. The plant can grow in more acid conditions (down to a pH 4.3), but nitrogen fixation is less efficient[2]. Establishment on heavy clays can be difficult[2]. Plants are tolerant of low to moderate salinity[2]. Under favourable conditions, the plant grows very fast, reaching a height of 2 metres within 60 days, and accumulating 8 - 11 tonnes above-ground dry matter per hectare[4]. This is a quantitative short-day plant, with a critical photoperiod of 12 - 12.5 hours[3]. It has been proposed to plant S. Rostrata on field bunds. Prunings of these plants would provide cuttings for vegetative propagation, or be a source of readily available green manure. These plants could also be a source of seed[3]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[5]. It is only necessary to apply a solution of an appropriate Rhizobium strain in locations where this plant has not been grown before. Spontaneous inoculation in the field is generally adequate for a high rate of nitrogen fixation. Although Rhizobium strains to stem inoculation are highly specific, they are easily established in the soil, as they can be transferred via the seed-coat[3].
Propagation
Seed - pre-treatment to soften the hard seed coat reduces germination time and increases germination rate[3]. Treatment of the seed with concentrated sulphuric acid for 30 minutes improves the germination rate to more than 90%.[3] Subsequently, the treated seed should be washed with ample water to avoid overheating[3]. Abrading the seed, or a hot water treatment, also improve germination, but are much less effective[3]. The seed is sown in situ, usually broadcast[3]. Vegetative propagation by stem cuttings is possible, as the nodulation sites on the stems consist of adventive root primordia[3]. The use of cuttings instead of seed results in a quick establishment of the crop and may double the N accumulation in a 6-week growth period, or reduce the growth period by 2 weeks[3]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Sesbania+rostrata>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [2]Tropical Forages — http://www.tropicalforages.info/key/Forages/Media/Html/index.htm ↩︎Mainly focussed on forage plants, the site gives a lot of information on the plant, with a good botanical description, details of cultivation, plant uses and a good selection of photographs.
- [3]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [4]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
- [5]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [6]Grassland Species - Profiles — http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm ↩︎Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses.
- [7]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.