• Mucuna bracteata cover crop seeds by KudzuSeeds
  • Mucuna bracteata vigorous climbing legume growth
  • MB cover crop dense canopy in Philippine plantation
  • Mucuna bracteata rapid soil coverage
  • MB legume high biomass nitrogen fixation
  • Mucuna bracteata weed suppression effectiveness
  • MB cover crop established ground cover
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Kudzu Seeds Trading

Mucuna bracteata (MB)

Mucuna bracteata (MB)

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Mucuna bracteata (MB) is a vigorous perennial legume cover crop for young oil palm and rubber. It fixes 67 to 84% of its nitrogen from the air (150 to 200 kg N/ha/year), reaches 100% ground cover in about 6 months, and suppresses weeds by 94.7 to 99.9% versus bare inter-rows. Kudzu Seeds Trading supplies MB seed (germination-tested, ISPM 7 and BPI phytosanitary certification) for the Philippines and export.

PLANT CHARACTER

Perennial, creeping, aggressive climber. Thick stems and pseudo tap roots extending 2 to 3m deep. Branches from each node. Adventitious roots do not form easily from nodes touching the ground.

USES
Nitrogen fixation, weed suppression, erosion control, soil moisture and temperature regulation, and soil organic matter improvement. Research conducted by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) confirms that Mucuna bracteata derives 67 to 84% of its nitrogen directly from the atmosphere, delivering 150 to 200 kg of fixed nitrogen per hectare per year under Southeast Asian plantation conditions, a proven reduction in synthetic fertiliser dependency. Learn how MB compares to other species in our five-species cover crop comparison.

GROWTH HABIT
Shade tolerant during establishment. Initial growth is slow during the first 8 to 10 months before becoming highly prolific. Achieves 100% ground cover within 6 months under adequate rainfall, confirmed as the fastest canopy closure of any cover crop tested in Malaysian plantation trials.

WEED CONTROL
The dense legume mat suppresses weed density and dry weight by 94.7 to 99.9% versus unweeded control plots in oil palm inter-rows, effectively eliminating Imperata cylindrica (lalang/cogon grass) and broadleaf competitors, reducing or eliminating herbicide passes.

PLANTING TYPE & SEEDING RATE
Monoculture: 85 to 100 g/ha

PLANTING METHOD
Nursery then field transplanting in points (holes)

DRY MATTER PRODUCTION
Up to 28 t/ha/year (open canopy); about 13 t/ha/year under 60 to 70 percent shade (MPOB)

NO. OF SEEDS/KG
5,900 to 6,000 seeds

Research-backed performance
Peer-reviewed evidence

By the numbers

Data from MPOB, JCU, and peer-reviewed plantation trials across Malaysia, Indonesia, and Nigeria.

67 to 84%
Nitrogen from the atmosphere
Confirmed by 15N isotope dilution tracing in a 3-year oil palm plantation, Malaysia.
MPOB / Cheah et al., Oil Palm Bulletin No. 60
150 to 200
kg N fixed per hectare per year
Routine fixation rate when established at 100% ground cover under Southeast Asian plantation conditions.
JCU / Pipai 2023, Biological N Fixation in Oil Palm
6
Months to 100% ground cover
Fastest canopy closure of any cover crop tested under Malaysian and Indonesian plantation conditions.
CABI / JOPR 2025, Cover Crops in Malaysian Oil Palm
84%
Higher oil yield vs. bare soil
5-year field trial in Southern Nigeria: 1.69 t/ha (Mucuna) vs 0.92 t/ha (control) by year 5.
Direct Research Journal of Agric. & Food Science 2022
94.7 to 99.9%
Reduction in weed density
Weed density and dry weight reduction vs. unweeded control plots in oil palm inter-rows.
CABI Digital Library, Cover Crops & Weed Suppression in Oil Palm
1.11
g/cm3 bulk density
Under Mucuna bracteata vs. 1.40 g/cm3 in bare-soil controls. Improved soil porosity and root penetration.
Direct Research Journal of Agric. & Food Science 2022

All statistics are drawn from peer-reviewed or institutional research. View MPOB nitrogen fixation bulletin

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

70-90% Germination Rate
150-200 kg N/ha/yr Fixed
6 months Full Ground Cover
85-100 g/ha (transplanted) Seeding Rate
Up to 28 t/ha Biomass Production

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 shade-tolerant, high-biomass cover for long-term plantation use, established by nursery transplant.

Well suited for

  • Mature or closing-canopy oil palm (tolerates roughly 60 to 70 percent shade)
  • Long-term ground cover with heavy litter and biomass
  • Steep or erosion-prone slopes
  • Estates that prefer one durable, persistent cover

Less suitable for

  • Quick broadcast establishment (it needs a polybag nursery and transplanting)
  • Low-input setups that want minimal biomass and trimming
  • Very short rotations or temporary cover needs

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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