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Common name: Sunn hemp, Indian hemp, Madras hemp, San सन (Hindi), Ching enjhin (Manipuri), Shon (Bengali), Chanaka (Malayalam), Gilaka (Telugu), Pundi (Kannada), Shanama (Telugu), வாக்குன்னார் Vakkunnar (Tamil)
Botanical name: Crotalaria juncea Family: Fabaceae
Sunn hemp is a rapid growing crop that is used for fiber production
in Indo-Pakistan. It is also good for use as a green manure in many tropical
and subtropical areas in the world as an organic and nitrogen source. It
suppresses weeds, slows soil erosion, and reduces root-knot nematode
populations. When plowed under at early bloom stage,
nitrogen recovery is the highest. Branched erect annual 2-3 m high with
elliptical lanceolate leaves and yellow terminal flowers. The pods are small
and inflated, having stiff hairs. Commonly grown in India for fodder. The
seeds and pods are sometimes toxic and should therefore be removed before
feeding.
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