USAID Morodok Baitang: Sunn Hemp, the Best Crop species for Soil Health Improvement
AKP Phnom Penh, July 03, 2023 --

Sunn Hemp has been identified as the best cover crop species which helps improve soil health and store nutrition.

The remarks were highlighted by USAID Morodok Baitang in a recent news release, explaining that cover crops are plants grown to benefit the growth of other future crops and can be an important component of organic and wildlife friendly agriculture.

“They help with soil erosion, crowd out weeds, control pests and diseases, increase biodiversity, and can bring a host of other benefits to farmers including increased profitability,” it said.

USAID Morodok Baitang through its partner Sansom Mlup Prey, supports IBIS Rice farmers to grow cover crop in their farms to improve soil fertility in the targeted areas. Through trials conducted for several years, Sunn Hemp was identified as the best cover crop species that could be adapted to the local condition.

The farmers received training on the benefits and how to grow this cover crop on their farms, said the source, adding that equipped with this technique, IBIS Rice farmers experience improved soil fertility, reduced weeds in their paddy field, and improved rice production.

According to an online source, Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea)* is a tropical and subtropical legume used to increase rotational crop yields and reduce invertebrate pest pressure.
By C. Nika
AKP

*Crotalaria juncea - Wikipedia
Crotalaria juncea, known as brown hemp, Indian hemp, Madras hemp, or sunn hemp, is a tropical Asian plant of the legume family ( Fabaceae ). It is generally considered to have originated in India.