• Calopogonium mucunoides cover crop seeds by KudzuSeeds
  • Calopogonium mucunoides yellow-flowered legume
  • CM cover crop rapid establishment in tropical plantation
  • Calopogonium mucunoides weed suppression demonstration
  • CM legume nitrogen fixation for soil enrichment
  • Calopogonium mucunoides dense ground coverage
  • CM cover crop seed product by KudzuSeeds
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Kudzu Seeds Trading

Calopogonium mucunoides (CM)

Calopogonium mucunoides (CM)

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Bulk & wholesale supply — pricing on request.

Calopogonium mucunoides (CM) is a fast-establishing annual legume cover crop for rubber, coconut and oil palm. It produces dense ground cover quickly, fixes nitrogen, and decomposes fast to recycle nutrients (95.61% within 3 months; 10,773 kg fresh biomass/ha at 150 days). Kudzu Seeds Trading supplies CM seed (germination-tested, ISPM 7 and BPI phytosanitary certification) for the Philippines and export.

PLANT CHARACTER

Trailing annual legume with creeping and twining growth. Establishes quickly, producing dense vegetative cover under rubber, coconut, and banana canopies across tropical growing conditions. Adapts well to a range of tropical soil types found throughout tropical regions worldwide.

USES
Nitrogen fixation, erosion control, soil cover, green manure, and weed suppression. Established as a basin legume in coconut systems, Calopogonium mucunoides contributes 27.21 kg of biomass and 186.5 g of nitrogen per basin (Thomas & Shantaram, 1993), and alongside Pueraria javanica, can substitute up to 30% of nitrogen fertiliser requirements in adult coconut. See how CM compares to other species in our five-species cover crop comparison.

GROWTH HABIT
Rapid early establishment under tropical conditions. In Zamboanga Peninsula trials (Department of Agriculture Region 9), Calopogonium mucunoides produced 10,773 kg of fresh biomass per hectare at 150 days after planting. Decomposes at 95.61% within 3 months, one of the fastest nutrient-cycling cover crops for tropical inter-row and basin systems.

PLANTING TYPE & SEEDING RATE
Pure stand: 4-6 kg/ha; in a legume mixture: 1-3 kg/ha

PLANTING METHOD
Direct sowing, broadcast or rows

DRY MATTER PRODUCTION
6-10 t/ha/year

NO. OF SEEDS/KG
~70,000 seeds (1000-seed weight 13-15 g, PROSEA)

Research-backed performance
Peer-reviewed evidence

By the numbers

Research from Philippine DA field trials, peer-reviewed coconut agronomy studies, and tropical plantation research.

10,773
kg fresh biomass at 150 days
Philippines field trial, Zamboanga Peninsula, strong tropical performance under rubber canopy.
Dept. of Agriculture Region 9, Philippines Cover Crop Trial
95.61%
Decomposition within 3 months
Rapid nutrient release back into the root zone under tropical conditions.
Dept. of Agriculture Region 9, Philippines Cover Crop Trial
27 kg + 187 g N
Biomass & nitrogen per coconut basin
27.21 kg biomass and 186.5 g nitrogen per basin, among the highest of any tested legume species.
Thomas & Shantaram 1993, Int. Coconut Community Journal
Up to 30%
N fertiliser substitution in coconut
Reduces nitrogen input costs in coconut plantations, backed by Coconut Board of India research.
Indian Coconut Journal 2022, Coconut Board of India

All statistics from peer-reviewed or institutional sources. View Thomas & Shantaram coconut basin study →

SUPPLIER
Supplied by Kudzu Seeds Trading, the Philippines-based sister company of Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. All seeds are tested for germination before shipment and exported with phytosanitary certification (ISPM 7 compliant, Philippine NPPO / Bureau of Plant Industry).

GLOBAL AVAILABILITY
Available for export to tropical regions worldwide, including Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Contact us for bulk pricing and export documentation.

Related Resources

Plan with our free calculators

Estimate the nitrogen this cover crop can contribute with the Nitrogen Fixation Calculator, or model erosion control with the Soil Erosion Calculator. Browse all our plantation tools.

Last reviewed June 2026 by Kudzu Seeds Trading.

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Performance Data

By The Numbers

60-80% Germination Rate
up to 154 kg N/ha biomass-N
2-3 months Full Ground Cover
4-6 kg/ha Seeding Rate
pH 4.0-6.0 Soil pH Range

Data based on testing to ISTA and AOSA methods, MPOB and DA Philippines field references, and peer-reviewed tropical agriculture research.

Is this right for your site?

Where this fits

A fast-establishing nurse legume for early cover, best in the first one to two years.

Well suited for

  • Rapid early ground cover on newly cleared, open land
  • Nurse crop within legume seed mixtures
  • Quick erosion protection during establishment

Less suitable for

  • Long-term sole cover (short-lived, typically two to three years)
  • Shaded ground under a developed canopy
  • Drought-prone sites

Not sure it fits your conditions? Send your crop, area, and site details and our team will advise on suitability before you order.

Documents available

Technical Data Sheet (TDS), Certificate of Analysis (COA) with germination data, and phytosanitary certification (ISPM 7 compliant) for export are available on request.

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Limitations and site considerations

Field results depend on crop system, soil, rainfall, planting method, seed quality, storage, timing, and post-establishment management. Adjust recommendations to local conditions, and contact us before ordering if you are unsure about crop fit, application rate, or site suitability.

What to include in your inquiry

  • Country and delivery location
  • Main crop or plantation type
  • Total area in hectares
  • Estimated quantity and timeline
  • Buyer type: plantation, distributor, government, or smallholder

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