Description

Sun Hemp (*Crotalaria juncea*) is a fast-growing annual legume primarily cultivated as a cover crop and green manure. It grows upright, reaching heights of 1 to 3.5 meters (3 to 11.5 feet) with fibrous, ridged stems. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, spirally arranged along the stem, measuring 4 to 12 centimeters (1.5 to 4.7 inches) in length. It produces bright yellow, pea-like flowers in terminal clusters, followed by small seed pods containing black or brown seeds. Its deep taproot improves soil aeration while fixing nitrogen into the soil.

✂️🫘 Methods to Propagate:
Sun Hemp is best propagated through direct seeding. Seeds should be sown at a depth of 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters (0.6 to 1 inch) in warm, well-drained soil when temperatures exceed 20°C (68°F). Germination occurs within 3 to 7 days.

🌞💧 Sun and Water Requirements:
This plant thrives in full sun and prefers well-drained sandy or loamy soils with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. It is drought-tolerant but benefits from occasional watering in dry conditions.

🧑‍🌾👩‍🌾 When to Harvest:
If used as green manure, Sun Hemp should be incorporated into the soil before flowering (around 8 to 12 weeks after planting). For fiber production, it should be harvested at full bloom when stems are at their strongest.

Purpose

In permaculture, Sun Hemp serves multiple functions:
- Nitrogen Fixer: Improves soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules.
- Mulcher: Provides biomass for mulch, suppressing weeds and enhancing soil moisture retention.
- Dynamic Accumulator: Extracts deep soil nutrients, making them available for future crops.
- Erosion Control: Its deep root system stabilizes soil and prevents erosion.
- Biofuel: Has potential for biomass-based fuel production.