Sunn Hemp

Stole these articles from Petcher Seed and Johnny Seeds. Had never heard of Sunn Hemp, but just ordered some seed:). 

Sunn Hemp, a tropical legume, is used in many tropical countries as the number one cover crop for reclaiming poor land.

Sunn hemp is a tropical legume whose claim to fame is that 60 days from planting it is typically over 6 feet tall, adds 100 pounds of Nitrogen, translocates from the subsoil to the topsoil 10 pounds of residual Phosphorus and 80 pounds of residual Potash, supplies 4 tons of organic matter, suppresses rootknot and reniform nematodes, greatly suppresses weeds, is a great soil builder, increases drought tolerance and yield and cash value of the next crop. The leaves of sunn hemp are 30 % protein. Both goats and deer thrive on this crop.

There are millions of acres of this crop grown in other countries. Brazil calls it their number one soil builder. Sunn hemp, being a tropical plant, grows only in the summer here. Brazil’s second soil builder is the “Forage Radish”. There are over 350,000 acres of the forage-tillage radish in Brazil. Sunn hemp is originally from India and has been grown since the dawn of agriculture. It has been grown as a green manure, livestock feed for forage, hay, and for non-wood fiber. It is also excellent for deer and goats.

Sunn hemp is a good source of Nitrogen and Potash. It is a tropical legume so as it grows it produces Nitrogen. Then when the crop dies it releases Nitrogen back into the soil for the next crop. Sunn hemp’s claim to fame is that in sixty days from planting, it is typically six feet tall and produces 100 pounds of Nitrogen, translocates from the subsoil to the topsoil 10 pounds of Phosphorus, 80 pounds of Potash and produces four tons of organic matter. Over the summer, sunn hemp in favorable conditions may grow ten to twelve feet tall and release over 200 pounds of Nitrogen, 20 pounds of Phosphorus and 160 pounds of Potash back into the soil.

Sunn Hemp, a tropical legume, has the reputation of being one of the best soil-building cover crops in the world. It also has the reputation of being one of the best summer forages in the world for goats. Goats thrive on this forage. This plant grows very fast and typically reaches 6 feet in height in 60 days. It also is a legume so it replenishes the soil with Nitrogen. Within 60 days it typically replenishes the soil with over 100 pounds of Nitrogen and translocates from the subsoil 10 pounds of Phosphorus and 80 pounds of Potash. It also adds 4 tons of organic matter and suppresses both Root Knot and Reiniform nematodes in the soil.

Why goats thrive on Sunn Hemp

First of all, the leaves of the plant are over 30 percent Nitrogen. This boost in protein results in phenomenal herd health. At present there are no known toxins in sunn hemp that reduce parasites in goats. However, the fact that the goats will be mostly upward browsing is another dynamic effect on the herd as they will be ingesting few, if no, worm eggs. The plant grows straight up with leaves coming off the main stem. It is very important to let the sunn hemp achieve at least 32 inches, preferably 40 inches, in height before allowing the goats to graze. This typically will be around 45 days after planting. This allows time for the main stem to become a bit steamy and then the goats will eat just the leaves. If the stems are mowed below 12 inches the sunn hemp may die instead of producing fast regrowth. If the sunn hemp is too tall, 6 feet or more, the goats may walk the plant down to eat the leaves and this usually kills the plants. So control graisng is a must if you only have a small patch of sunn hemp. Allowing the herd to graze for one hour per day is ample. If unable to control graze ever day, allowing the herd to graze at least once every four days will produce dynamic herd health.