Performance of Sunn Hemp Cultivars Developed at Auburn University.

Sunn hemp is a fast growing tropical species that is widely grown as green manure in the tropics where is also grown as a fiber and animal fodder crop. It has as basic chromosome number (n) 8, and it belongs to the Family Fabaceae, Tribe Crotalarieae. It is a legume adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions and soil types. Furthermore, it tolerates droughts and can grow in low fertility soils. Sunn hemp produces high biomass yields, fixes N and is resistant to several nematodes. However, sunn hemp cannot produce seed in temperate climates of the continental USA. Breeding sunn hemp for adaptation to temperate climates was initiated at Auburn University several years ago. Two experimental cultivars were evaluated for performance under different environmental conditions against two tropical cultivars. Biomass and N production, N, NDF and content ADF were measured. Cultivars had the same performance for all the traits measured. Planting date had a significant effect on all traits.