Which cover crop species is best for my plantation?

It depends on your region and elevation. The checker ranks all five species (Mucuna bracteata, Pueraria javanica, Calopogonium mucunoides, Centrosema pubescens, Calopogonium caeruleum) for your site and explains why each is rated Excellent, Good, Fair, or Not Recommended.

Does elevation change the recommendation?

Yes. Most species are excellent in lowland tropical conditions, but performance shifts with altitude. In the checker, Mucuna bracteata is rated Not Recommended for highland sites (above about 1,000 m), while Centrosema pubescens tolerates higher elevations and is rated Good there.

Are these ratings specific to the Philippines?

The regions listed are Philippine island groups, so the climate patterns are Philippine-specific. The underlying temperature and rainfall tolerances of each species apply across tropical regions worldwide, so the species guidance is broadly transferable.

What does a Not Recommended rating mean?

It means the species is unlikely to establish or persist well under those conditions. Choose a higher-rated species from the same ranking, or request a consultation for a site-specific plan.

Climate suitability checker for tropical cover crops

Species suitability by elevation at a glance

Ratings used by this checker for Philippine plantation regions (September 2026)
Species	Lowland	Mid-altitude	Highland (above about 1,000 m)	Notes
Mucuna bracteata (MB)	Excellent	Good	Not recommended	Needs consistent tropical warmth; fast, dense cover in open lowland blocks
Pueraria javanica (PJ)	Excellent	Good	Fair	Growth slows above 1,000 m; the seeding rate for a highland site is set on the quotation
Calopogonium mucunoides (CM)	Excellent	Good	Fair	Tolerates acid and degraded soils; covers the soil 3 to 6 months after sowing (PROSEA 11)
Centrosema pubescens (CP)	Excellent	Good	Good	Tolerates higher elevations and is rated Good for highland sites; good shade tolerance
Calopogonium caeruleum (CC)	Excellent	Good	Fair	Very shade tolerant; spreads by stolons for persistent cover

Ratings summarise the checker's underlying climate envelopes for Philippine island groups across Mindanao, the Visayas, and Luzon. Most plantations plant a mixture rather than a single species. Values reviewed September 2026.

About the climate suitability checker

This free tool ranks the main tropical cover crops for your plantation by Philippine region and elevation. It compares Mucuna bracteata, Pueraria javanica, Calopogonium, and Centrosema against the rainfall and temperature conditions typical of your location, and shows which species fit. It is built for oil palm, rubber, coconut, durian, and other plantation systems across Mindanao, the Visayas, and Luzon.

How it works

You select your region and elevation band. The checker scores each species on how well its known climate envelope matches your site. Mucuna bracteata is favoured for vigorous biomass and quick ground cover in open, higher-rainfall blocks. Pueraria javanica is a balanced all-rounder. Centrosema pubescens tolerates more shade, which suits maturing canopies. Calopogonium establishes fast as a short-term cover. The result is a ranked shortlist, not a single answer, because most plantations use a species mix.

How to read the result

Use the ranking to narrow your options, then confirm with our agronomy team, who will factor in your planting stage, weed pressure, and management capacity. Climate suitability is one input among several when designing a cover crop programme.

Frequently asked questions

Which species does it compare?

Mucuna bracteata, Pueraria javanica, Calopogonium, and Centrosema, the tropical legumes most used under Philippine plantation crops.

Does elevation really matter?

Yes. Temperature falls with elevation, and some species perform better in cooler upland blocks while others prefer warm lowland sites. The checker accounts for this when ranking.

Can I plant more than one species?

Most plantations do. A mix can combine fast early cover with longer-term persistence and shade tolerance. The ranking helps you choose which species to combine.

How do I get seed and a recommendation?

Share your region, crop, and stage and we will recommend a species mix and seeding rate. You can request a consultation or request a quote. We reply within one business day (Philippine time).