Cover crop seeds for plantation managers worldwide

Cover crop seeds for tropical plantation estates worldwide

Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. is a Malaysian supplier of legume cover crop seed and soil conditioners to plantations since 2003. We supply five tropical leguminous cover crop species, Mucuna bracteata (MB), Pueraria javanica (PJ), Calopogonium mucunoides (CM), Centrosema pubescens (CP), and Calopogonium caeruleum (CC), for oil palm, rubber, durian, and cocoa estates. We supply buyers worldwide on request, from Malaysia; where the destination requires one, seed consignments travel with a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Department of Agriculture Malaysia (DOA). These species fix atmospheric nitrogen, shade out weeds once established, and help protect topsoil on sloped terrain.

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Oil palm estates

Primary recommendation: Mucuna bracteata (MB), widely used in Malaysian oil palm. MB produces dense, multi-layered ground cover and, once established, suppresses weeds such as Imperata cylindrica and Mikania micrantha. In one mineral-soil trial it reached about 100% ground cover at 6 months at 680 seedlings/ha (Samedani et al. 2015); on deep peat at 320 seedlings/ha it reached 78% at 24 months (MPOB TT No. 501). It is also the shade-tolerant species of the group, which is why it carries the cover on into the maturing canopy. On nitrogen, 15N isotope dilution puts MB at 67 to 84% of its nitrogen drawn from the atmosphere (Cheah, Zaharah & Aminuddin 2010, Oil Palm Bulletin 60); that is a proportion, not a quantity per hectare, and we do not publish an absolute kg N/ha figure for MB. MB is nursery-raised and transplanted, never broadcast; the seed quantity for your site is confirmed on the quotation.

Alternative: Pueraria javanica (PJ), simple broadcast establishment at about 4 kg/ha as a pure stand (Tropical Forages). Best on open and immature ground; PJ thins as the canopy closes, so plan a shade-persistent successor.

Read our full Oil Palm Cover Crop Guide

Rubber plantations

Primary recommendation for immature rubber: Pueraria javanica (PJ), the long-standing standard while the canopy is still open. In the one rubber-intercrop trial where it has been measured in detail, in northeast Thailand, the cover accumulated up to 250 kg N/ha/yr in aboveground biomass at 85 to 93% Ndfa (Clermont-Dauphin et al. 2016, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 217:79-88). Read that as a measured upper reference point from one site, not a design value. The same trial found the cover reduced the drought resilience of the young rubber trees on water-limited ground, so on drought-prone sites manage the cover back from the planting rows. PJ does not tolerate deep shade: it thins as the canopy closes.

As the canopy closes: Centrosema pubescens (CP) and Calopogonium caeruleum (CC) are the shade-persistent successors and should be established before closure. Mucuna bracteata is the shade-tolerant heavy-biomass option through the maturing phase.

Alternative for establishment: Calopogonium mucunoides (CM), fast initial cover (it covers the soil 3 to 6 months after sowing, PROSEA 11), suitable for young rubber stands.

Read our full Rubber Cover Crop Guide

Durian orchards

Primary recommendation: Centrosema pubescens (CP) or Calopogonium caeruleum (CC), durian orchards require cover crops that do not compete aggressively with the main crop. CP and CC provide moderate ground cover, fix nitrogen, and integrate well with durian's wider spacing and periodic harvesting access requirements.

Note: Avoid MB in established durian orchards without regular pruning management, its vigorous climbing habit can smother support structures.

Cocoa agroforestry

Primary recommendation: Calopogonium mucunoides (CM), moderate growth habit works well in cocoa systems without competing aggressively, and it decomposes quickly, enriching topsoil. On nitrogen, no verified species-specific nitrogen figure is published for CM.

Request a bulk quote for your estate

Tell us your crop type, total hectarage, and country or region, and we will recommend the right species and send a quotation.

What is the minimum order quantity for estate-scale projects?

Minimum order and lead time are confirmed on the quotation. Tell us your crop, area, and country and we will quote the seed quantity for your site, with germination test results for the lot supplied.

How long does it take for cover crops to establish?

It depends on species, seed rate, site, and season. Published records: Calopogonium mucunoides covers the soil 3 to 6 months after sowing, with a dense sward at 4 to 5 months (PROSEA 11); Mucuna bracteata reached about 100% ground cover at 6 months on mineral soil at 680 seedlings/ha (Samedani et al. 2015), but 78% at 24 months on deep peat at 320 seedlings/ha (MPOB TT No. 501). Establishment is faster with wet season planting.

Do you supply SoilBoost EA alongside cover crop seed?

Yes. SoilBoost EA is our humic acid soil conditioner that supports soil structure and nutrient holding. When applied before or during cover crop planting, it can support establishment on degraded or compacted soils. It is a soil conditioner: it is not a fertiliser substitute and not a disease treatment. Available in 500g, 1kg, and 25kg packs.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. We supply buyers worldwide on request, from Malaysia. Where the destination requires one, seed consignments travel with a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Department of Agriculture Malaysia (DOA), the document described by ISPM 12. Import permits and admissibility remain the buyer's responsibility. Contact us for export enquiries.

What about rhinoceros beetle management?

We supply RB Lure pheromone traps for integrated pest management alongside cover crops. The traps capture adult beetles; see the RB Lure page for the trial evidence and its conditions.