Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.F. Wight
Syn.: Coronilla cannabina Willd.
Closely related, if not synonymous with S. aculeata
and S. cannabina
Canicha, Danchi, Dunchi fiber
Source: James A. Duke. 1983. Handbook of Energy Crops. unpublished.
- Folk Medicine
- Yields and Economics
- Biotic Factors
Danchi stems, used for pipe-stems, provide a strong durable fiber, substituted
for hemp in rope, twine, cordage for fish net, gunny sacks, and made into a
cloth used for sails. According to NAS (1980a), the plant, with fibers simliar
to those of birch, "is an exciting potential new source of paper products."
The crop is grown as green manure (adding 150 kg N/ha), leaves for forage, and
in South Africa, for poultry feed. Plant is eaten in time of famine. Seeds
contain a guar-like gum used in films for sizing textiles and paper products
and for thickening and stabilizing solutions. Grown also for firewood, the
plant is used for erosion control, hedges, intercropping "mother plants,"
nitrogen fixation, and windbreaks. In Vietnam, it is planted in the rice
fields and harvested for firewood before the rice crop is harvested. It is
said to have the admirable trait of supressing weeds like Imperata
cylindrica in moist situations (Duke, 1981a; NAS, 1980a).
Medicinally, seeds are mixed with flour and applied to ringworm, other skin
diseases, and wounds (Duke, 1981a). Ayurvedics regard the root as alexiteric,
anthelmintic, collyrium, diuretic, and lactagogue. Kirtikar and Basu (1975)
report that around Las Bela it is used for wounds, and powdered roots are
administered to snakebite victims, inducing emesis and perhaps a cure.
Seeds of the genus Sesbania are reported to contain trypsin inhibitors
and chymotrypsin inhibitors. Seed are reported to contain 6.2% of a fixed oil
and 32.9% crude protein. Gohl (1981) reports seed analyses from South Africa
showing 36.4% CP, 12.1% CF, 1.5% ash, 6.9% EE, and 43.1% NFE; from India
showing 32.7% CP, 10.7% CF, 5.0% ash, 2.9% EE, 48.7% NFE, 0.37% Ca, and 0.59%
P. Oven-dry fiber is reported as 0.71% ash, 0.94 fat and wax, 2.3 nitrogenous
matter, 9.76 pentosan, 16.3 lignin, 85.2 holocellulose (63.6% alpha cellulose),
etc. (These figures from Mazumdar et al, 1973, add up to more than 100%, and
must be evaluated carefully.) (Duke, 1981a).
Erect suffuticose low annual subshrub, up to 7 m tall; stems fairly thick,
glabrous, branched from the base but soft and pithy; leaves up to 38 cm long,
pinnate, leaflets 1855 pairs, 1.22.5 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, glabrous,
glaucous; inflorescence 28-flowered, 2.57.5 cm long; flowers yellow and
purple-spotted; pods up to 25 cm long, 0.3 cm thick, curved, many-seeded. Fl.
Assigned to the Hindustani Center of Diversity, danchi, or cvs thereof, is
reported to exhibit tolerance to alkaline soils, drought, heavy soil, low pH,
salt, sandy soil, weeds, and waterlogging. (2n = 12, 24). (Duke,
1981a; NAS, 1980a).
Native to northern India, Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka, and tropical Africa, this
crop is cosmopolitan in the Old World Tropics, and has been introduced in
southern United States and the Phillippines; a common weed in tropical Africa
from Senegal to the Cameroons.
Crop adapted to wet areas and heavy soils, which do not require much
preparation. Under waterlogged conditions stem produces a spongy mass of
aerenchyma. It thrives in low to medium elevations (01200 m), along streams,
in open wetlands or often as a weed in rice paddy fields. Ranging from
Subtropical Moist through Tropical Dry to Moist Forest Life Zones, danchi is
reported to tolerate annual precipitation of 5.522.1 dm (mean of 4 cases =
3.4), annual mean temperature of 19.927.3°C (mean of 4 cases = 23.8), and
pH of 5.87.5 (mean of 3 cases = 6.9) but has been grown in pH 9.2 (Duke,
1981a; NAS, 1980a).
In India seed sown in JuneJuly at onset of southwest monsoon; sowings after
September produce poor seed production. In southern United States seed
broadcast after soil has been moistened by rains in April or May and harrowed.
In India seed is usually broadcast, but sometimes drilled in rows 30 cm apart.
Seed may be drilled or broadcast at rate of 2060 kg/ha. Thicker planting
facilitates harvest of small plants. The crop is fast-growing, needs little
weeding. Usually no fertilizers are applied. In India, grown either as a main
crop in rice rotation or as a border crop on the edge of rice fields. On
alkali soils (pH 9.2) with added N, P, K, and zinc sulfact rice ('IR8-68')
yielded 6.74 MT/ha where danchi was plowed in, on 16 4.52 MT/ha after fallow.
The effect of green manuring was equivalent to the addition of 80 kg N/ha
Ready to cut in September or October, but the fiber does not suffer if left
standing until seed is ripe in November. In India seed matures in about 55
1/2 months; in the United States in about 2 months. Ripe pods normally do not
shatter. In India pods are usually hand-picked and threshed by beating with
sticks; however, if hand-picking is delayed beyond March, some pods shatter.
In the United States crop is harvested by machine and windrowed, and then
threshed with an ordinary grain thresher. Seeds must be treated with
insecticides before storing, as they are liable to damage by insects.
Processes for steeping and cleaning the fiber are similar to those for sunn
hemp (Crotalaria juncea). About 2 kg of fiber can be dressed per day
In India yields of seed are about 600 kg/ha; in Peru, 900 kg/ha; in California,
1,000 kg/ha. Fiber yields are 1001,000 kg/ha.
Recommended as a firewood crop by NAS (1980a), the stems of danchi have low
density (sp. grav. 0.3) but yield well in 6 months. It is used for firewood
for example in Vietnam and Pakistan, where villagers use it to evaporate water
from sugar. In Italy, a yield of 15 MT/ha DM is reported. The NAS states, "In
the tropics, where more than one crop can be harvested each year, the annual
production could be even higher." (NAS, 1980a). In a table comparing oil seed
yields, Duke and Bagby (1982) report 1,000 kg seed per hectare for Sesbania
bispinosa, with 200 kg/ha seed (Vigna umbellata) the lowest reported
in that table, and 14,000 kg/ha (Sapium sebiferum) the highest, both
This crop is self-pollinating and requires no isolation for pure seed
production. Several nematodes attack this Sesbania: Meloidogyne incognita,
M. javanica, and Trichodorus minor. In southern United States, this
crop usually precedes autumn planted vegetables. However, because of nematode
attack, it is not recommended for growing in sandy soils with other susceptible
crops, as cucurbits. Weevils and caterpillars attack seed pods, and the seeds
in storage. These may be controlled with insecticides. Plants are attacked by
the parasitic flowering plant, Dendrophthoe falcata.
Complete list of references for Duke, Handbook of Energy Crops
- Duke, J.A. 1981a. Handbook of legumes of world economic importance. Plenum
- Duke, J.A. and Bagby, M.O. 1982. Comparison of oilseed yields: A preliminary
review. Typescript of paper presented in North Dakota.
- Gohl, B. 1981. Tropical feeds. Feed information summaries and nutritive values.
FAO Animal Production and Health Series 12. FAO, Rome.
- Kirtikar, K.R. and Basu, B.D. 1975. Indian medicinal plants. 4 vols. 2nd ed.
Jayyed Press, New Delhi.
- N.A.S. 1980a. Firewood crops. Shrub and tree species for energy production.
National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC.
Last update Friday, January 9, 1998 by aw