What is Mucuna bracteata (MB) and who is it for?
Mucuna bracteata is a vigorous climbing and creeping perennial legume used as a cover crop in oil palm and rubber plantations across Southeast Asia. In one MPOB study under three-year-old oil palm (Cheah, Zaharah and Aminuddin 2010, 15N isotope dilution) it derived 67 to 84 percent of its nitrogen from the atmosphere, with no routine annual fixation rate asserted. It is drilled or planted in holes, or raised in a nursery and transplanted; it suppresses weeds through dense biomass and tolerates dry spells once established. MB is best suited for young oil palm, peat-soil BMP programmes, sloped terrain and weed-heavy planting sites. It requires active palm-circle management and is not a maintenance-free or set-and-forget solution.
Quick facts: Mucuna bracteata (MB)
| Scientific name | Mucuna bracteata |
|---|---|
| Growth habit | Vigorous climbing/creeping perennial legume |
| Recommended seeding rate (sown alone) | 1 kg/ha, drilled or planted in holes (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue); not broadcast. Nursery option: 320 seedlings/ha, two per palm point, from about 500 seeds (75 g) on deep peat (MPOB TT No. 501); 680 seedlings/ha at 1.5 m spacing on mineral soil (Samedani et al. 2015) |
| Soil | Mineral and peat plantation soils |
| Shade tolerance | Low to moderate (prefers open to partial sun) |
| Drought tolerance | Tolerates dry spells once established |
| N from the air (Ndfa) | 67 to 84% in one MPOB study (Cheah, Zaharah and Aminuddin 2010) |
| Annual N fixation rate | No routine annual rate asserted |
| Time to ground cover (published trials) | About 100% at 6 months with 680 seedlings/ha on mineral soil (Samedani et al. 2015); 31% at 6 months, 58% at 12, 75% at 18 and 78% at 24 months with 320 seedlings/ha on deep peat (MPOB TT No. 501) |
Product details
PLANT CHARACTER
Perennial, creeping, aggressive climber supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia). Thick stems and deep pseudo tap roots. 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. Using 15N isotope dilution, Cheah, Zaharah & Aminuddin (2010, Oil Palm Bulletin No. 60, MPOB) measured Mucuna bracteata deriving 67 to 84% of its nitrogen from the atmosphere (%Ndfa). That is a proportion, not a quantity. We do not publish an absolute kilogram-per-hectare-per-year nitrogen figure for MB, and we do not put a percentage on fertiliser replacement: how much nitrogen actually reaches your crop depends on biomass, site and management. Verify against your own soil and leaf analysis rather than assuming a fixed fertiliser credit. For a detailed species-by-species comparison, see PJ vs MB Comparison.
GROWTH HABIT
Shade tolerant during establishment. Growth is slow for the first 2 to 3 months before the cover spreads. Two Malaysian trial records, each with its own conditions: on mineral soil at 680 seedlings/ha (1.5 m spacing), ground cover reached about 100% at 6 months (Samedani et al. 2015, Int. J. Agric. Biol. 17(2): 251-260); on deep peat at Teluk Intan, at 320 seedlings/ha from about 500 seeds (75 g), cover was 31% at 6 months, 58% at 12, 75% at 18 and 78% at 24 months (MPOB TT No. 501, Hasnol Othman, Farawahida Mohamad Darus and Zulkifli Hashim, 2012). How fast the cover closes depends on planting density, soil and rainfall.
WEED CONTROL
In a UPM trial on mineral soil under oil palm, the cover crop treatments together had 97.3 to 99.9% lower weed dry weight and 94.77 to 99.73% lower weed density than unweeded plots, 9 to 24 months after planting (Samedani et al. 2015). A dense legume mat suppresses Imperata cylindrica (lalang/cogon grass) and broadleaf competitors, which can reduce the number of herbicide passes needed. A cover crop suppresses weed growth by occupying the ground; it does not eradicate a weed species and it is not a herbicide. Learn more about cover crop selection in our best cover crop for oil palm guide.
PLANTING TYPE & SEEDING RATE
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), and Samedani et al. (2015) planted 680 seedlings/ha on mineral soil. The quantity for your site is confirmed on the quotation; for a mixture, the quantity of each species is set on the quotation.
PLANTING METHOD
Drilled or planted in holes; or raised in a nursery, then transplanted to the field in points (holes)
DRY MATTER PRODUCTION
No figure is published here for MB; 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.
Mucuna bracteata (MB) 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 fumigates seed and 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
- PJ vs MB Detailed Comparison
- 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: Mucuna bracteata 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. The sources range from institutional reference works to single field trials, and each applies to its own site and management. They are not performance guarantees for Chemiseed seed.
Mucuna bracteata seeds are supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. to buyers worldwide on request. Figures above are as reported by the sources named, which range from institutional reference works to single trials; they describe those studies, not a guaranteed outcome on your site. View MPOB nitrogen fixation bulletin
What does the research say about Mucuna bracteata (MB)?
- Cheah, Zaharah and Aminuddin (2010), MPOB Oil Palm Bulletin 60: 22-27: 67 to 84% of MB nitrogen derived from the atmosphere under three-year-old oil palm on Jawa Series soil (15N isotope dilution); no annual rate is derived from it.
- MPOB TT No. 501 (Hasnol Othman, Farawahida Mohamad Darus and Zulkifli Hashim, 2012): peat BMP establishment with about 320 seedlings/ha; ground cover 31% at 6 months, 58% at 12, 75% at 18 and 78% at 24 months on deep peat at Teluk Intan.
- Samedani et al. (2015), Int. J. Agric. Biol. 17(2): 251-260: about 100% ground cover at 6 months with 680 seedlings/ha on mineral soil; across the cover crop treatments together, weed dry weight was 97.3 to 99.9% lower and weed density 94.77 to 99.73% lower than unweeded plots, 9 to 24 months after planting (UPM trial, oil palm).
- Wawan et al. (2019), IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci. 250: 012021: on slopes in immature oil palm in Riau, Indonesia, plots with MB lost less soil than plots without it (small plots, two replicates).
Where does Mucuna bracteata (MB) work best?
Best for
- Young oil palm plantations
- Oil palm peat BMP programs (MPOB TT-501)
- Sloped terrain requiring erosion control
- Weed-heavy planting sites
- Coconut systems (with management)
Not ideal for
- Deep shade environments
- Unmanaged young oil palm (can smother palms without circle maintenance)
- Mature shaded rubber plantations
What Mucuna bracteata (MB) will not do
Requires active palm-circle management throughout establishment and maintenance periods. MB is not a maintenance-free cover crop and it is not a disease treatment for any crop. No yield increase is promised: yield responses depend on site conditions and management.
How to establish and use Mucuna bracteata (MB)
Recommended seeding rate: 1 kg/ha sown alone, drilled or planted in holes (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue). 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). On mineral soil, Samedani et al. (2015) planted 680 seedlings/ha at 1.5 m spacing. The quantity for your site is confirmed on the quotation. Maintain clear palm circles throughout establishment to prevent smothering of young palms. On sloped terrain, MB protects the soil once it covers the ground.
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.
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 (oil palm, rubber, coconut)
- Soil type (mineral, peat, sandy)
- Terrain (flat, sloped, hilly)
- Current weed pressure level
- Planting area in hectares
- Whether you need seedlings or direct seed
- 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 Mucuna bracteata (MB)
Why does Mucuna bracteata need active management?
MB is a vigorous climber that can overgrow palm circles if left unmanaged. Regular palm-circle clearing is essential to prevent competition with young palms. It is not a set-and-forget cover crop.
Can Mucuna bracteata smother young oil palms?
Yes. Without active palm-circle management, MB can climb and smother young oil palms. This is why MPOB protocols emphasise regular clearing around palm bases during establishment.
What is the recommended seeding rate for Mucuna bracteata?
The recommended seeding rate is 1 kg/ha sown alone, drilled or planted in holes (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue); 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). Samedani et al. (2015) planted 680 seedlings/ha at 1.5 m spacing on mineral soil. The quantity for your site is confirmed on the quotation.
Is Mucuna bracteata drought tolerant?
MB tolerates dry spells once established, but seedlings need moisture to establish. Plant at the start of the rainy season and keep nursery seedlings watered. No verified figure for drought survival is published here.
Does Mucuna bracteata increase FFB yield?
No yield increase is promised. Yield outcomes depend on site conditions, management quality and other agronomic factors. The evidence-backed benefits are nitrogen from fixation, weed suppression and soil protection.
Plan with our calculators
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