Cover Crops for Philippine Oil Palm Plantations
Kudzu Seeds Trading supplies tropical legume cover crop seeds and SoilBoost EA soil conditioner to Philippine oil palm estates across Mindanao, from Agusan del Sur to Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, Maguindanao, Davao del Sur, and Palawan. Establishing a strong legume cover during the immature phase (years 1 to 4) protects topsoil on slopes while the palms close canopy.
At a glance
- PH role: Philippine oil palm is concentrated mainly in Mindanao and Palawan.
- Key regions: Agusan del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, Maguindanao, Davao del Sur, Palawan.
- Policy: The Philippine Palm Oil Industry Roadmap promotes domestic production capacity and area expansion.
- Critical phase: Cover crops matter most during years 1 to 4 (immature phase, before canopy closure).
- Primary species: Mucuna bracteata (MB) and Pueraria javanica (PJ) dominate establishment; Centrosema pubescens (CP) and Calopogonium caeruleum (CC) take over once canopy closes.
- Establishment method: MB is transplanted as nursery-raised seedlings, never broadcast. PJ, CP, CC, and CM are broadcast.
Why cover crops matter for oil palm in the Philippines
Most Philippine oil palm is planted on rolling to undulating land in Mindanao, where Pacific-facing slopes and short, intense convective storms make bare interrows a serious erosion risk. In three-year-old oil palm in Riau, Indonesia, on slopes of 0 to 25 percent, Mucuna bracteata reduced runoff and erosion compared with plots without it (Wawan, Dini and Hapsoh 2019; small plots, two replicates). In a young rubber plantation in Côte d'Ivoire, a Pueraria phaseoloides cover sown in the inter-row reduced runoff by 88 percent and soil loss by 98 percent compared with bare soil, measured on 1 m² plots over three years (Perron et al. 2024).
The second reason is nitrogen supply. Mucuna bracteata derives roughly 67 to 84 percent of its nitrogen from the atmosphere (Ndfa). 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 et al. 2010). Published nitrogen accumulation figures for MB vary widely with site, soil, age, and canopy conditions, so treat any single kilogram-per-hectare value as indicative and site-dependent rather than as a design figure. Biomass also varies widely and falls as palms shade the floor. Legume cover contributes nitrogen; adjust your fertiliser programme only after soil and leaf analysis shows what the cover supplies on your block.
The third reason is canopy timing. The immature phase (years 1 to 4) is when weeds, exposed soil, and slope are simultaneously at their worst. A vigorous legume cover suppresses Imperata cylindrica and other weeds while the young palms put on canopy, then thins out naturally as the upper-storey closes.
Recommended species for Philippine oil palm
Mucuna bracteata (MB)
The flagship oil palm cover. Established as nursery-raised seedlings and transplanted, never broadcast: MPOB TT No. 501 used about 320 seedlings per hectare, two per palm point, raised from about 500 seeds (75 g), and Samedani et al. (2015) used 680 seedlings per hectare at 1.5 m spacing on mineral soil. In one 15N study under oil palm, roughly 67 to 84 percent of its nitrogen was derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa) (Cheah et al. 2010); biomass varies widely and falls under shade.
Immature phase / transplanted, not broadcast
Pueraria javanica (PJ)
Sown alone, the published rate is about 4 kg per hectare (Tropical Forages). Fast-establishing companion to MB during the immature phase; provides rapid weed suppression while MB seedlings extend.
Immature phase / broadcast
Centrosema pubescens (CP)
Broadcast, the published rate is 3 to 5 kg per hectare (Tropical Forages). Persistent under shade, so it carries the legume role once palms close canopy from year 4 onward.
Mature phase / shade-tolerant
Calopogonium caeruleum (CC)
The published rate is 1 to 1.5 kg per hectare sown with 5 to 7.5 kg per hectare of PJ (Tropical Forages). Shade-tolerant climber that complements CP under mature canopy and continues nitrogen input.
Mature phase / shade-tolerant
Calopogonium mucunoides (CM)
Broadcast; the seeding rate is confirmed on the quotation. It covers the soil 3 to 6 months after sowing, sooner on newly cleared fertile land (PROSEA 11). Aggressive pioneer for acidic and degraded Mindanao soils; useful in mixes for first-year establishment.
Establishment mix / acidic soils
SoilBoost EA
Leonardite-derived humic acid soil conditioner with 0.45 percent sulphur, pH 3.84. Broadcast 50 to 100 kg/ha, or drench 10 to 15 kg/ha around palm bases. It is a soil conditioner, not a fertiliser and not a substitute for one, and it is not a fungicide or pesticide. Manufactured exclusively for Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. and Kudzu Seeds Trading.
Amendment / supports soil biology
Seeding rates at a glance
| Species | Establishment method | Rate per hectare | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mucuna bracteata (MB) | Transplanted nursery seedlings | About 320 seedlings, two per palm point, from about 500 seeds (75 g) (MPOB TT No. 501) | Immature (years 1 to 4) |
| Pueraria javanica (PJ) | Broadcast | About 4 kg sown alone (Tropical Forages) | Immature (years 1 to 4) |
| Centrosema pubescens (CP) | Broadcast | 3 to 5 kg (Tropical Forages) | Mature, shade-tolerant |
| Calopogonium caeruleum (CC) | Broadcast | 1 to 1.5 kg with 5 to 7.5 kg PJ (Tropical Forages) | Mature, shade-tolerant |
| Calopogonium mucunoides (CM) | Broadcast | Confirmed on the quotation | Establishment mix |
| SoilBoost EA | Broadcast or drench | 50 to 100 kg broadcast, or 10 to 15 kg drench | Any phase |
PH-specific establishment timing
Philippine oil palm regions split broadly into a wetter eastern Mindanao (Agusan, Davao Oriental, parts of Surigao) and a drier western and southern belt (Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, Maguindanao, southern Palawan). The standard rule for legume establishment is to plant or broadcast at the onset of the rainy period, giving seed a period of consistent soil moisture before drier weeks return.
- Eastern Mindanao (typhoon-belt, wet most months): establish in May to June after the driest March to April window. Seedling MB transplanted with the first sustained rains roots into the slope before the heavy August to November rainfall arrives.
- Western and southern Mindanao: establish in late May through July to align with the southwest monsoon onset. A second viable window opens in October to November in many estates.
- Palawan: follow local rainfall pattern; the southern half of Palawan has a pronounced dry season, so seedling MB plus PJ broadcast at the first heavy rains is the standard sequence.
Eastern Mindanao plantations are inside the southern edge of the Philippine typhoon belt. Anchored, well-rooted legume cover protects topsoil during high-rainfall events far better than bare or weeded interrows.
Common challenges in Philippine oil palm
- Acidic Ultisols and low base saturation on much of the Mindanao oil palm belt. Legume cover plus SoilBoost EA can support soil biology and organic matter status.
- Slope erosion on undulating to rolling terrain typical of Agusan, Bukidnon, and Sultan Kudarat. Continuous legume cover is an effective mitigation.
- Imperata cylindrica (cogon) pressure in newly opened or replanted blocks. MB plus PJ outcompete cogon when established early and densely.
- Fertiliser cost volatility. Legume cover contributes nitrogen; adjust your fertiliser programme only after soil and leaf analysis shows what the cover supplies on your block.
- Dry-season moisture loss in western Mindanao. A live legume cover slows soil moisture loss compared with bare interrows.
Frequently asked questions
Which cover crop is best for Philippine oil palm during the immature phase?
Mucuna bracteata (MB) is the standard choice for the immature phase in Philippine oil palm. It is established as nursery-raised seedlings (MPOB TT No. 501 used about 320 per hectare, two per palm point, from about 500 seeds), and in one 15N study under oil palm it derived roughly 67 to 84 percent of its nitrogen from the atmosphere (Ndfa) (Cheah et al. 2010). MB is often interplanted with Pueraria javanica for faster initial ground cover; the published PJ rate sown alone is about 4 kg/ha (Tropical Forages), and the rate in a mix is confirmed on the quotation.
How is Mucuna bracteata established? Is it broadcast?
No. MB is not broadcast. It is established as nursery-raised seedlings transplanted onto the interrow: MPOB TT No. 501 used about 320 seedlings per hectare, two per palm point, raised from about 500 seeds (75 g), and Samedani et al. (2015) used 680 seedlings per hectare at 1.5 m spacing on mineral soil. The seed requirement is small because each seedling is raised under nursery conditions before going to the field, so a broadcast kilogram-per-hectare rate does not apply to MB.
What cover crops should I use once oil palm canopy closes?
From around year 4 onward, MB and PJ thin out under shade. Centrosema pubescens (CP) and Calopogonium caeruleum (CC) persist far better under partial shade and continue to contribute nitrogen into the mature phase. Published rates are 3 to 5 kg/ha broadcast for CP, and 1 to 1.5 kg/ha for CC sown with 5 to 7.5 kg/ha of PJ (Tropical Forages).
Do you supply cover crop seed to Palawan and not only Mindanao?
Yes. We supply buyers across the Philippines from Davao City. Orders are Ex Works (EXW) Tigatto, Davao City, unless the quotation states FOB or CIF for export. Delivery to Palawan, or anywhere else in the Philippines, can be arranged on request and at your cost: you may collect from our premises in Tigatto, send your own trucker or forwarder, or ask us to book a carrier, in which case the quotation states the delivery address and the delivery cost. Export shipments carry a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI); documents for inter-island shipments are confirmed on the quotation.
Can SoilBoost EA replace fertiliser on oil palm?
No. SoilBoost EA is a humic acid soil conditioner, not a fertiliser and not a substitute for one, and it is not a fungicide or pesticide. It is Leonardite-derived, with 0.45 percent sulphur and pH 3.84. Broadcast 50 to 100 kg/ha or drench 10 to 15 kg/ha around the palm base. It supports soil biology and nutrient cycling alongside your normal fertiliser programme and the legume cover. Legume cover contributes nitrogen; adjust your fertiliser programme only after soil and leaf analysis shows what the cover supplies on your block.
Related pages
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Send a quotation request with your crop, area and delivery point, or WhatsApp us for pricing, lot availability, and delivery options for your estate in Mindanao or Palawan. We reply within one business day (Philippine time).
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All Philippine plantation guides
Browse by region or by crop. Each guide covers Philippine-specific species and establishment notes, with published seeding rates where a source exists.
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Kudzu Seeds Trading is the Philippines-based sister company of Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia (chemiseed.com). SoilBoost EA is manufactured exclusively for Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. and Kudzu Seeds Trading.
Sources for the seeding, cover, erosion and nitrogen figures: Tropical Forages, CIAT and ILRI (2020), tropicalforages.info; MPOB TT No. 501 (Hasnol Othman, Farawahida Mohamad Darus and Zulkifli Hashim, 2012); Samedani et al. (2015), International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 17(2): 251-260, CABI (PDF); Cheah, Zaharah and Aminuddin (2010), Oil Palm Bulletin 60: 22-27, MPOB (PDF); PROSEA 11 (Faridah Hanum and van der Maesen, eds., 1997); Wawan, Dini and Hapsoh (2019), IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 250: 012021, doi:10.1088/1755-1315/250/1/012021; Perron et al. (2024), Science of the Total Environment 913: 169335, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169335.
Last reviewed 10 October 2026.