Sesbania  spp.

Local names: Bengali: Agate, Bake Hindi: Basma, Hatiya, Agasti Sanskrit: Anari Tamil: Peragati, agate

There are many species of Sesbania ranging from small shrub/ tree to a long tree. Sesbania aegyptiaca and S. grandiflora are common in western and southern parts of India.

Nutritive value

It contains 25-30% crude protein. Supplementation with S. grandiflora to goats fed guinea grass hay increased intake by 25% and supported a positive nitrogen balance. In sacco digestibility  was 75% in 12 hours. Other in vitro and in sacco studies reported the very high forage quality of S. grandiflora. It is highly palatable to ruminants and well accepted by monogastrics also.

Deleterious factor

Seeds contain a toxin poisonous to fish.   It contains low quantities of condensed tannins. Also contains canavanine, the nutritional implications of which are unknown.