Introduction

Agriculture is a process of bringing plant growth under control and modifying it so as to produce — it is hoped — the maximum benefit to man. Food production has always been the paramount goal. As agricultural systems have developed, plants for purposes other than food have come under man’s control to produce feed for animals, fiber for clothing, cordage, and paper, wood for fuel and structures, and other industrial and medicinal products. Sesbania species are not food plants, except in some instances where leaves and flowers are consumed as vegetables. Their major agricultural use has been as green manures to improve production of food crops. Potential uses of Sesbania include the expanded use of perennial Sesbania species to improve animal nutrition. The use of annual species for pulpwood and fiber can provide cash crops and foster local industries in developing countries where increased literacy and consumerism increases demands for paper.