Cover Crops for Oil Palm in Kalimantan, Indonesia

For Kalimantan oil palm, early ground cover is the priority: many blocks are immature or newly planted on cleared and often peaty land, where a fast leguminous cover controls erosion, fixes nitrogen, and protects exposed soil while the canopy establishes. A fast pioneer gives rapid cover, then vigorous and longer-lived legumes carry it forward. SoilBoost EA supports soil condition and structure on these soils.

Aerial view of a Kalimantan oil palm plantation at sunset with young palms and establishing ground cover

At a glance

  • Region: Kalimantan is Indonesia's second-largest oil palm region, spanning Central, East, West, and South Kalimantan
  • Estate mix: significant immature and newer plantings, extensive peat areas, and exposed cleared land
  • Why it matters: early ground cover during canopy establishment, erosion and runoff control on cleared and sloping land, nitrogen fixation, and weed suppression
  • Fast pioneer: Calopogonium mucunoides (CM) for rapid early cover, usually sown in a mixture (10 kg/ha sown alone; mixture quantities are set on the quotation)
  • Core legumes: Pueraria javanica (PJ) 10 kg/ha sown alone (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue); Mucuna bracteata (MB) 1 kg/ha sown alone, drilled or planted in holes, or raised in a nursery and transplanted (MPOB's deep peat trial used 320 seedlings/ha from about 500 seeds, 75 g; MPOB TT No. 501)
  • Shade-tolerant for canopy closure: Centrosema pubescens (CP) 10 kg/ha sown alone; Calopogonium caeruleum (CC) 5 kg/ha sown alone (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue)
  • Soil support: SoilBoost EA humic acid conditioner (humic acid, pH 3.84, 0.45% sulfur as sent or 0.61% on a dry-weight basis, Leonardite-derived; typical analysis, certificate of analysis for the batch supplied on request)

Cover crops for Kalimantan oil palm

Kalimantan is Indonesia's second-largest oil palm region, across Central, East, West, and South Kalimantan. Much of the area is immature or newly planted, with extensive peat and a great deal of recently cleared, exposed land. On these blocks, getting a protective leguminous cover established early is the single most valuable step:

  • Early ground cover: a fast pioneer covers exposed soil quickly during the months after planting, when the ground is most vulnerable.
  • Erosion and runoff control: a living cover protects cleared and sloping land, slowing surface runoff before the canopy closes.
  • Nitrogen fixation: legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen in partnership with soil bacteria, returning it to the system as the cover decomposes.
  • Weed suppression: a dense legume mat shades out weeds and reduces manual and chemical weeding.
  • Organic matter: continuous biomass turnover feeds soil organic matter and biological activity.

Fast pioneer cover for immature blocks

On Kalimantan's immature and newly cleared blocks, speed of establishment matters. Calopogonium mucunoides (CM) is a useful fast pioneer because it establishes quickly and gives rapid early ground cover (usually sown in a mixture; 10 kg/ha sown alone, with mixture quantities set on the quotation). It is typically sown with longer-lived legumes such as Pueraria javanica (PJ, recommended at 10 kg/ha sown alone) so that, as the fast pioneer thins, the vigorous core legume carries the cover forward. Mucuna bracteata (MB) provides dense, persistent cover; it is recommended at 1 kg/ha sown alone, drilled or planted in holes, and can also be raised in a nursery and transplanted, as in MPOB's trial on deep peat at 320 seedlings/ha (MPOB TT No. 501). It is not broadcast.

Soil erosion on a bare cleared plantation slope without ground cover, illustrating runoff risk on Kalimantan blocks

Erosion and runoff control on cleared and sloping land

Newly cleared land in Kalimantan is exposed to heavy tropical rainfall before any canopy has formed. On sloping ground this can drive significant surface runoff and erosion. A living legume cover protects the soil surface, slows runoff, and holds soil in place through the immature years. Establishing a fast pioneer early, then carrying the cover forward with vigorous and shade-tolerant legumes, keeps the ground protected from clearing through to canopy closure.

Species selection by stage

Calopogonium mucunoides (CM): fast pioneer

CM establishes quickly and gives rapid early ground cover, making it the workhorse pioneer on immature and newly cleared Kalimantan blocks. Recommended seeding rate (sown alone): 10 kg/ha. CM is usually sown in a mixture; the quantity for your site is confirmed on the quotation.

Pueraria javanica (PJ): vigorous core legume

PJ (tropical kudzu) is a vigorous, widely used core legume for oil palm, valued for biomass and nitrogen contribution. Recommended seeding rate (sown alone): 10 kg/ha (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue).

Mucuna bracteata (MB): long-lived cover, sown or nursery-raised

MB produces dense, persistent ground cover. Recommended seeding rate: 1 kg/ha sown alone, drilled or planted in holes. MB is not broadcast. MB can also be raised in a nursery and transplanted; in MPOB's trial on deep peat, 320 seedlings/ha, two per palm point, were raised from about 500 seeds (75 g) (MPOB TT No. 501), and Samedani et al. (2015) planted 680 seedlings/ha on mineral soil.

Centrosema pubescens (CP) and Calopogonium caeruleum (CC): shade tolerant for canopy closure

As the palm canopy closes and light at ground level drops, shade-tolerant legumes carry the cover forward. CP recommended seeding rate: 10 kg/ha sown alone. CC recommended seeding rate: 5 kg/ha sown alone (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue). These species are often combined with pioneers in a mixed cover strategy. These rates are for one species sown alone. For a mixture, the quantity of each species is set on the quotation for your site. As a trial record, MPOB's trial on deep peat (MPOB TT No. 501, Information Series 588, June 2012, Table 1 treatment C2) used PJ 4 + CP 3 + CC 1 = 8 kg/ha, with 5 g of Rhizobium inoculant (RRI strain) per kg of seed.

Calopogonium mucunoides cover crop seeds, a fast pioneer for immature Kalimantan oil palm blocks

Ground cover during canopy establishment

The years before canopy closure are when the soil is most exposed and the cover crop does most of its work. A well-established legume cover holds soil, suppresses weeds, conserves moisture, and adds nitrogen and organic matter through the immature phase. As the canopy closes and shade increases, shade-tolerant legumes such as Centrosema pubescens and Calopogonium caeruleum keep the ground covered.

The role of SoilBoost EA on Kalimantan soils

SoilBoost EA is a Leonardite-derived humic acid soil conditioner manufactured exclusively for Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) and Kudzu Seeds Trading. It has pH 3.84 and 0.45% sulfur as sent (25.81% sample moisture), equivalent to 0.61% on a dry-weight basis. Typical analysis. A certificate of analysis for the batch supplied is available on request. On the acidic and leaching-prone soils common across Kalimantan's oil palm areas, a humic acid conditioner supports soil condition and structure. SoilBoost EA is applied by broadcast at 50 to 100 kg/ha or by drench at 10 to 15 kg/ha. It is a soil conditioner: it is not a fertiliser substitute and not a disease treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Which cover crop is best for immature oil palm in Kalimantan?

A fast pioneer such as Calopogonium mucunoides (10 kg/ha sown alone; mixture quantities set on the quotation) for rapid early cover, sown with a vigorous core legume like Pueraria javanica (recommended at 10 kg/ha sown alone), is a common choice on immature and newly cleared blocks.

How do cover crops help on cleared and sloping land?

A living legume cover protects exposed, cleared soil and slows surface runoff on sloping ground before the canopy closes, reducing erosion while building nitrogen and organic matter.

How is Mucuna bracteata established?

Recommended seeding rate: 1 kg/ha sown alone, drilled or planted in holes. MB can also be raised in a nursery and transplanted; in MPOB's trial on deep peat, 320 seedlings/ha, two per palm point, were raised from about 500 seeds (75 g) (MPOB TT No. 501). Mucuna bracteata is not broadcast.

What does SoilBoost EA do on Kalimantan soils?

SoilBoost EA is a humic acid soil conditioner that supports soil condition and structure on acidic, leaching-prone soils. It is applied at 50 to 100 kg/ha by broadcast or 10 to 15 kg/ha by drench. It is not a fertiliser substitute.

Where can I buy these cover crop seeds in Kalimantan?

Request a quotation through our quotation form, or contact Windhi, Chemiseed's Indonesia representative. She supports the whole process in Bahasa Indonesia.

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Related pages and products

References: Seeding rates (PJ, CM and CP 10 kg/ha, CC 5 kg/ha, MB 1 kg/ha, each sown alone): Chemiseed recommendation (2026 catalogue); MPOB TT No. 501 / Information Series 588 (June 2012) for the Mucuna bracteata nursery record and the PJ 4 + CP 3 + CC 1 mixture used in that peat trial; Samedani et al. (2015), Int. J. Agric. Biol. 17(2): 251-260. SoilBoost EA figures are from the product specification (typical analysis).