What is Centrosema pubescens (CP) and who is it for?
Centrosema pubescens is a twining perennial legume valued for its ability to persist under partial to heavy shade, making it one of the more reliable cover crops for mature plantation systems. No verified species-specific nitrogen figure is published for CP. CP maintains ground cover in conditions where many other species decline. It is widely used in cacao, mature oil palm, rubber, and coconut systems. CP establishes at moderate speed and is most commonly deployed in mixtures with PJ and CM rather than as a sole cover.
Quick facts: Centrosema pubescens (CP)
| Scientific name | Centrosema pubescens |
|---|---|
| Growth habit | Twining perennial legume |
| Recommended seeding rate (sown alone) | 10 kg/ha (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue); mixture quantities are set on the quotation |
| Soil | Acid to neutral, well-drained soils |
| Shade tolerance | High (performs under partial to heavy shade) |
| Drought tolerance | Moderate |
| Annual N fixation rate | No verified species-specific rate |
| Biomass-N stock (kg N/ha) | Not established |
| Time to ground cover | Dense cover from a pure sward in 4 to 8 months (PROSEA 11) |
Product details
PLANT CHARACTER
Robust, creeping perennial legume with good shade tolerance, supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia). Produces persistent ground cover under partial plantation canopy shade. Deep-rooting system contributes to subsoil nutrition and aggregate stability.
USES
Nitrogen fixation under shade, erosion control, soil cover in cacao and agroforestry systems, and establishment for replanting and slope protection. Centrosema pubescens persists under partial canopy shade, which makes it a common choice where less shade-tolerant cover crops thin out as cacao or rubber canopies close. No verified species-specific nitrogen figure is published for CP. For optimal germination, pair with Seed Activator.
GROWTH HABIT
Quick to establish under adequate rainfall, reaching dense ground cover within 4 to 8 months in a pure sward (PROSEA 11), then producing persistent, self-maintaining cover once rooted. Suitable for slope gradients where erosion risk is high. See how CP compares against other species in our cover crop comparison guide.
PLANTING TYPE & SEEDING RATE
Recommended seeding rate (sown alone): 10 kg/ha (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue). This rate is for CP sown alone. For a mixture, the quantity of each species is set on the quotation for your site. For the record, MPOB's peat trial (MPOB TT No. 501, Information Series 588, June 2012, Table 1 treatment C2) used CP 3 kg/ha within a PJ 4 + CP 3 + CC 1 blend totalling 8 kg/ha, with 5 g Rhizobium (RRI strain) per kg of seed. Note the distinction between a total mixture rate and a per-species component rate, and confirm whether you are sizing per gross hectare or per interrow hectare actually sown.
PLANTING METHOD
Drilled or planted in holes
DRY MATTER PRODUCTION
No figure is published here for CP; dry matter depends on site, shade and management.
NO. OF SEEDS/KG
Stated on the quotation for each seed lot.
SUPPLIED BY CHEMISEED SDN. BHD.
Centrosema pubescens (CP) cover crop seeds are supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian supplier of legume cover crop seed and soil conditioners to plantations since 2003. Chemiseed holds valid export permits. Where the destination country requires one, consignments travel with a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Department of Agriculture Malaysia (DOA) for export. Import permits and admissibility in the destination country remain the buyer's responsibility. For bulk enquiries, contact Chemiseed directly.
AVAILABILITY: WORLDWIDE ON REQUEST
We supply buyers worldwide on request, from Malaysia. Contact Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. for a quotation and export logistics.
Related Resources
- Cover Crop Comparison: PJ, CM, CP, MB
- Best Cover Crop for Oil Palm
- Best Cover Crop for Rubber
- Cover Crop Calculator
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Seed Activator, Boost Germination
Related Articles
Read more from the Chemiseed agronomic knowledge base:
How to Order
Small quantities / Retail: For single packs and smaller quantities, shop our retail stores on Shopee and TikTok Shop.
Bulk / Estate: For plantation-scale orders, request a quotation. Minimum order and lead time are confirmed on the quotation.
Export / International: We supply buyers worldwide on request. Contact us for CIF or FOB terms and export documentation.
Marketplace: Retail packs available on Shopee Malaysia and TikTok Shop.
Plan with our free calculators
Estimate the nitrogen this cover crop can contribute with the Nitrogen Fixation Calculator, model erosion control with the Soil Erosion Calculator, or work out the seed quantity with the Cover Crop Calculator. Browse all our plantation tools.
Related guide: Centrosema pubescens cover crop guide, or see the complete cover crops guide.
Last reviewed June 2026 by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd.
Research findings
By the numbers
Each figure below is reported by the source named beneath it. Some are institutional reference works and compiled estimates rather than field measurement, as noted on each card.
Centrosema pubescens seeds are supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. to buyers worldwide on request.
What does the research say about Centrosema pubescens (CP)?
- Tropical Forages (CIAT and ILRI 2020) species profile: characteristics and agronomy.
- PROSEA 11 (1997): a pure CP sward gives dense cover in 4 to 8 months.
- MPOB TT No. 501 (2012): the cover crop mixture used in MPOB's trial on deep peat included CP (PJ 4 + CP 3 + CC 1 kg/ha).
- No verified species-specific nitrogen figure is published for CP.
Where does Centrosema pubescens (CP) work best?
Best for
- Shaded cacao systems
- Mature plantation systems with closed canopy
- Humid, well-drained tropical sites
- Persistent shade cover requirements
- Legume mixtures (commonly with PJ and CM)
Not ideal for
- Very open or sunny sites as sole cover (other species establish faster)
- Very acidic waterlogged soils
- Situations requiring the fastest possible initial ground cover
What Centrosema pubescens (CP) will not do
CP has hard-seed dormancy that requires scarification for reliable germination. It is often most effective in mixtures rather than as a single universal cover crop solution. On fully open sites, faster-establishing species like CM will provide quicker initial cover. CP's primary advantage is shade persistence, which is less relevant in young open plantings.
How to establish and use Centrosema pubescens (CP)
Recommended seeding rate (sown alone): 10 kg/ha (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue). This rate is for CP sown alone. For a mixture, the quantity of each species is set on the quotation for your site. In MPOB's trial on deep peat (MPOB TT No. 501), the seed was inoculated with 5 g Rhizobium per kg of seed. Seed scarification is recommended to overcome hard-seed dormancy and achieve uniform germination. In mixed plantings, CP is typically combined with CM (for fast initial cover) and PJ, with CP providing the shade-persistent component that maintains cover as the canopy closes. CP performs best on humid, well-drained sites.
Documents and limitations
Documents available
Technical Data Sheet (TDS), Certificate of Analysis (COA) with germination data, Safety Data Sheet (SDS) where applicable, and, for export, a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Department of Agriculture Malaysia (DOA) are available on request. Seed lots are germination- and purity-tested to ISTA and AOSA methods.
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.
Seeding a slope or embankment?
On road cuttings, embankments and riverbanks, lay coconut fibre net (coir netting) over the seeded slope so heavy rain does not wash the seed away before it establishes. The net and this seed can go on one quotation.
How to order
- Tell us about your siteYour crop, total area in hectares and delivery location.
- We recommendThe right product, rate and the documents you need.
- You get a quotationPrice, minimum order, lead time and dispatch are confirmed on it.
What to include in your inquiry
To prepare your quotation, please include:
- Your plantation crop (cacao, oil palm, rubber, coconut)
- Canopy density (open, partial shade, heavy shade)
- Soil drainage and pH
- Annual rainfall
- Planting area in hectares
- Whether you plan to use CP alone or in a mixture
- Your location (country and region)
Request a quotation, or contact us via WhatsApp: +60 17-237 4058
Sold by quotation only. Price, minimum order and lead time are confirmed on the quotation.
Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd.
Frequently asked questions about Centrosema pubescens (CP)
Does Centrosema pubescens need seed scarification?
Yes. CP has hard-seed dormancy, and scarification (mechanical or chemical) is recommended for reliable and uniform germination. Without scarification, establishment may be patchy and slow.
Where does Centrosema pubescens perform best?
CP performs best on humid, well-drained tropical sites with partial to heavy shade. It is particularly well-suited for mature cacao systems, closed-canopy oil palm, and mature rubber where shade tolerance is essential for maintaining persistent ground cover.
Can Centrosema pubescens survive heavy shade?
Yes. CP is one of the most shade-tolerant legume cover crops available. It maintains ground cover under conditions where many other species, including PJ, begin to thin or decline. This makes it the preferred choice for the shade-persistent component in legume cover crop mixtures.
Why is CP commonly used in legume mixtures rather than alone?
CP establishes at moderate speed, which means it is slower to provide initial ground cover than species like CM. By combining CP with fast-establishing CM and high-N-fixing PJ, plantation managers get rapid early cover, strong nitrogen contribution, and long-term shade persistence from a single planting.
Plan with our calculators
- Cover Crop Seed Rate Calculator Estimate how much cover crop seed you need for your plantation, by species, area and seeding rate. Open full calculator
- Climate and Soil Suitability Checker Check how well your site's climate suits this product on an interactive map, and add the pH from your own soil test. Open full calculator
