Cover Crop Seeds | Centrosema pubescens (CP)
Quick Facts
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PLANT CHARACTER
Robust, creeping perennial legume with good shade tolerance, supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia). Produces persistent ground cover even under established plantation canopies. 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 sustains biological nitrogen fixation at 120–270 kg N/ha/year even under canopy shade up to 80% — making it a strong choice where other cover crops struggle beneath closed cacao or rubber canopies. Tissue nitrogen remains stable at 2.4–2.7%, maintaining continuous fertility contribution through leaf turnover.
GROWTH HABIT
Achieves dense ground cover within 4–8 months under adequate rainfall. Requires good conditions during establishment but produces persistent, self-maintaining cover once rooted. Suitable for slope gradients where erosion risk is high.
PLANTING TYPE & SEEDING RATE
Monoculture or mixture: 2–4 kg/ha
PLANTING METHOD
Direct sowing — broadcast or rows
DRY MATTER PRODUCTION
5–9 t/ha/year
NO. OF SEEDS/KG
~65,000 seeds
SUPPLIED BY CHEMISEED SDN. BHD.
Centrosema pubescens (CP) cover crop seeds are supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian agricultural input company specialising in cover crop seeds and soil conditioners for tropical plantation systems. Chemiseed holds valid export permits and phytosanitary certificates for international seed shipment under ISPM 7 and NPPO Malaysia standards. For bulk enquiries, contact Chemiseed directly.
GLOBAL AVAILABILITY — TROPICAL REGIONS WORLDWIDE
Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. exports Centrosema pubescens seeds to tropical regions worldwide. Current export destinations and target markets include: Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea (Southeast Asia and Oceania); Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru (Latin America); Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo (Africa); India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh (South Asia); Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu (Pacific Islands). All shipments include phytosanitary certification. Contact Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. for bulk pricing and export logistics.
By the numbers
Species performance data from agronomic field observation and institutional references across SE Asian plantation systems.
Centrosema pubescens seeds are supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. and available for export worldwide. Performance data sourced from institutional and peer-reviewed references.
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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. CP contributes nitrogen fixation in the 35 to 450 kg N/ha/yr range typical of plantation legume covers and 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 |
| Seeding rate | 3-5 kg/ha (monoculture), 2-3 kg/ha (mixture) |
| Soil pH range | 4.5 - 6.0 |
| Shade tolerance | High (performs under partial to heavy shade) |
| Drought tolerance | Moderate |
| N fixation | Part of 35-450 kg N/ha/yr range in plantation systems |
| Establishment speed | Moderate |
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)
Sow at 3 to 5 kg/ha for monoculture or 2 to 3 kg/ha in legume mixtures. 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 (for high N fixation), with CP providing the shade-persistent component that maintains cover as the canopy closes. CP performs best on humid, well-drained sites.
What does the research say about Centrosema pubescens (CP)?
- Tropical Forages profile provides species characteristics and agronomic data.
- Cacao shade-tolerance research documents CP performance under heavy canopy.
- Legume cover crop mixture trials across Southeast Asia include CP as a standard shade-tolerant component.
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.
What to include in your inquiry
To help us provide accurate pricing and recommendations for Centrosema pubescens (CP), please include the following information when you contact us:
- 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 (state/region in Malaysia)
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