Cover Crop Seeds for the Davao Region
Kudzu Seeds Trading is based in Tigatto, Davao City. This guide covers cover crop species for oil palm, coconut, banana and durian plantations in the Davao Region (Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro and Davao Occidental). We supply buyers across the Philippines and, on request, worldwide from Davao City.
Request a quotationAt a glance
- Company: Philippine supplier of legume cover crop seed, soil conditioner and rhinoceros beetle lures to plantations since 2002. Office at Km. 8, Purok 1, Sitio Uyanguren, Tigatto, Davao City. Minimum order and lead time are confirmed on the quotation.
- Main crops: Oil palm (Davao del Sur), coconut (Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte), Cavendish banana (Davao region-wide), durian (Davao = durian capital of the Philippines), cacao.
- Climate: Lowland tropical, high year-round rainfall, mostly volcanic and clay loam soils. Outside the main typhoon belt, which means stable year-round planting windows.
- Shipping and documents: Shipped from Davao City, Philippines. Export shipments carry a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
- Sister company: Kudzu Seeds Trading is the Philippines-based sister company of Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd.
Major crops in the Davao Region
The Davao Region is the agricultural heartland of southern Mindanao and one of the most diverse plantation areas in the Philippines. Cavendish banana for export, durian for both domestic and export markets, coconut, oil palm, and a strong fruit-tree sector all share the same volcanic soils and high-rainfall climate.
| Crop | Where it is grown in the Davao Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cavendish banana | Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro | Major export crop shipped through Davao port to Japan, China, Korea, and the Middle East. |
| Durian | Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental | Davao is the durian capital of the Philippines; ongoing export programs to China. |
| Coconut | Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Davao del Norte | Large coconut belt with smallholder and consolidated estates. |
| Oil palm | Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, parts of Davao de Oro | Part of the broader Mindanao oil palm belt. |
| Cacao and coffee | Davao City highlands, Davao del Sur | Often intercropped under coconut or fruit trees. |
| Mango, pomelo, lanzones | Davao region-wide | Smallholder orchards and consolidated fruit estates. |
Recommended species per crop
Cavendish banana plantations
Pueraria javanica in inter-row strips for ground cover, weed suppression and erosion control; Tropical Forages gives about 4 kg/ha for PJ sown alone. SoilBoost EA can be added on heavily compacted harvest tracks.
Primary: PJ / Amendment: SoilBoost EA
Durian orchards
Centrosema pubescens tolerates the partial shade of mature durian canopy; Tropical Forages gives 3 to 5 kg/ha broadcast. SoilBoost EA can be applied at 10 to 15 kg/ha as a drench around the trunk basin to support root-zone soil biology.
Primary: CP / Amendment: SoilBoost EA
Oil palm (immature)
Mucuna bracteata is transplanted as nursery-raised seedlings, never broadcast. In MPOB TT No. 501 (deep peat) about 320 seedlings/ha, two per palm point, were raised from about 500 seeds (75 g); Samedani et al. (2015) planted 680 seedlings/ha on mineral soil. Pueraria javanica can be sown between the MB plantings, at a rate set on the quotation.
Primary: MB / Secondary: PJ
Oil palm (mature)
Centrosema pubescens and Calopogonium caeruleum tolerate shade and persist under closed canopy as the original MB and PJ cover thins. Tropical Forages gives CP 3 to 5 kg/ha broadcast, and CC 1 to 1.5 kg/ha sown with PJ 5 to 7.5 kg/ha.
Primary: CP / Secondary: CC
Coconut estates
Pueraria javanica (about 4 kg/ha sown alone, Tropical Forages) is a common choice under coconut. Calopogonium mucunoides suits older, more degraded land; its rate is set on the quotation.
Primary: PJ / Secondary: CM
Cacao, coffee, fruit trees
Centrosema pubescens under canopy; Pueraria javanica between rows in younger plantings. SoilBoost EA in the trunk basin where soil biology is depleted.
Under canopy: CP / Young: PJ
Seeding and establishment at a glance
| Species | Establishment method | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pueraria javanica (PJ) | Broadcast | About 4 kg/ha sown alone (Tropical Forages) | Fast ground cover, weed suppression, and erosion control in young plantings. |
| Centrosema pubescens (CP) | Broadcast | 3 to 5 kg/ha broadcast (Tropical Forages) | Shade tolerant; suits mature canopy. |
| Calopogonium mucunoides (CM) | Broadcast | Set on the quotation (no published single-species rate found) | Fast early cover on degraded land. |
| Calopogonium caeruleum (CC) | Broadcast | 1 to 1.5 kg/ha with PJ 5 to 7.5 kg/ha (Tropical Forages); no published rate sown alone | Persistent under closed canopy. |
| Mixture (MPOB conventional) | Broadcast | PJ 4 + CP 3 + CC 1 = 8 kg/ha, with 5 g Rhizobium per kg of seed | MPOB TT No. 501 (deep peat, Malaysia). PROSEA 4 gives calopo:centro:kudzu 5:4:1, or centro:kudzu 4:1, at 2 to 5 kg/ha in the interrow. |
| Mucuna bracteata (MB) | Transplanted seedlings only, never broadcast | About 320 seedlings/ha, two per palm point, from about 500 seeds (75 g) on deep peat (MPOB TT No. 501); 680 seedlings/ha on mineral soil (Samedani et al. 2015) | Roughly 67 to 84 percent of its nitrogen is derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa); absolute contribution is site-dependent. The 67 to 84 percent figure comes from one 15N isotope-dilution study under three-year-old oil palm on Jawa Series soil in Malaysia (Cheah, Zaharah and Aminuddin 2010, MPOB Oil Palm Bulletin 60: 22-27). |
Local context: Davao City office and logistics
Seed is shipped from Davao City, Philippines. Delivery arrangements, minimum order and lead time for sites in the Davao Region are confirmed on the quotation. Export shipments carry a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
Local logistics points:
- Office address: Km. 8, Purok 1, Sitio Uyanguren, Tigatto, Davao City, 8000.
- Davao International Container Terminal (Sasa): the main container port for exports from the Davao Region.
- Davao International Airport (Francisco Bangoy): for sample shipments and small documentation packages.
SoilBoost EA is the humic acid soil conditioner we recommend alongside the legume cover. It is manufactured exclusively for Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. and Kudzu Seeds Trading. It is a soil conditioner, not a fertiliser and not a substitute for one, and it is not a fungicide or pesticide. The stated application rate is 50 to 100 kg/ha broadcast, or 10 to 15 kg/ha as a drench.
To request a quotation, use the quote form, or reach the team by WhatsApp +60 17-237 4058, office phone +63 906 686 0327 (calls only), or email info@kudzuseeds.com. We reply within one business day (Philippine time).
Frequently asked questions
Are you the local cover crop seed supplier in Davao?
Yes. Kudzu Seeds Trading is based in Tigatto, Davao City. We supply buyers across the Philippines and, on request, worldwide from Davao City. Minimum order and lead time are confirmed on the quotation, and export shipments carry a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
Which cover crop is best for Cavendish banana in Davao?
Pueraria javanica is a common choice for banana inter-rows because it establishes quickly, suppresses weeds, and protects the soil surface on gentle slopes. Tropical Forages gives a seeding rate of about 4 kg/ha for PJ sown alone; the rate for your site is set on the quotation. For compacted harvest tracks where soil structure is degraded, SoilBoost EA can be broadcast at its stated rate of 50 to 100 kg/ha to support soil structure. Legume cover contributes nitrogen; adjust your fertiliser programme only after soil and leaf analysis shows what the cover supplies on your block.
What about cover crops under durian?
Centrosema pubescens suits durian because it tolerates the partial shade of mature durian canopy and supplies steady organic matter; Tropical Forages gives 3 to 5 kg/ha broadcast. SoilBoost EA can also be applied as a 10 to 15 kg/ha drench around the trunk basin. SoilBoost EA and our cover crops are not fungicides or pesticides; they support soil health, which is one of several factors in plant resilience. They are not a treatment for any specific disease.
How much Mucuna bracteata seed do I need per hectare?
Mucuna bracteata is transplanted as nursery-raised seedlings, never broadcast, so seed is counted per seedling rather than in kilograms per hectare. In MPOB TT No. 501 (deep peat, Malaysia) about 320 seedlings per hectare, two per palm point, were raised from about 500 seeds (75 g); Samedani et al. (2015) planted 680 seedlings per hectare at 1.5 m spacing on mineral soil. An MPOB 15N study under three-year-old oil palm (Cheah, Zaharah and Aminuddin 2010) attributed 67 to 84 percent of the nitrogen in MB to fixation from the atmosphere (Ndfa); the absolute contribution is site-dependent, so treat it as indicative rather than a design figure.
Can I visit the Davao office?
Yes. Our office is at Km. 8, Purok 1, Sitio Uyanguren, Tigatto, Davao City. Please WhatsApp +60 17-237 4058 or call +63 906 686 0327 in advance to arrange a visit so we can have the right product samples and documentation ready.
How is Kudzu Seeds Trading related to Chemiseed?
Kudzu Seeds Trading is the Philippines-based sister company of Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. SoilBoost EA is manufactured exclusively for Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. and Kudzu Seeds Trading, and supplied in the Philippines by Kudzu Seeds Trading. Buyers in Malaysia and Indonesia are served by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. (chemiseed.com).
Related pages
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Tell us your crop, area and location in the Davao Region, and we will confirm species, seeding rate, minimum order and lead time on the quotation. We reply within one business day (Philippine time).
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Browse by region or by crop. Each guide carries Philippine-specific species, seeding rates, and establishment timing.
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Crop-specific guides:
- Philippine oil palm
- Philippine coconut
- Philippine rubber
- Philippine sugarcane
- Philippine rice (green manure)
- Philippine banana
- Philippine durian
- Philippine cacao
Last reviewed October 2026.