What is Pueraria javanica (PJ) and who is it for?
Pueraria javanica is a vigorous creeping and twining perennial legume widely used as a cover crop in rubber, coconut and oil palm plantations. In one trial under young rubber in northeast Thailand (Clermont-Dauphin et al. 2016) it produced about 8 Mg/ha/yr of above-ground biomass and accumulated up to 250 kg N/ha/yr in it, 85 to 93 percent of that nitrogen derived from fixation. In young rubber in Côte d'Ivoire, a Pueraria cover in the inter-row cut runoff by 88 percent and soil loss by 98 percent against bare soil on 1 m2 plots over three years; adding spread logging residues almost eliminated both (Perron et al. 2024). PJ tolerates acid tropical soils but is not a drought specialist and is best suited for regions with reliable rainfall.
Quick facts: Pueraria javanica (PJ)
| Scientific name | Pueraria phaseoloides (syn. P. javanica) |
|---|---|
| Growth habit | Vigorous creeping/twining perennial legume |
| Recommended seeding rate (sown alone) | 10 kg/ha (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue); mixture quantities are set on the quotation |
| Soil | Acid tropical soils, including heavy clays |
| Shade tolerance | Moderate |
| Drought tolerance | Low to moderate (not a drought specialist) |
| Annual N accumulation (one trial) | Up to 250 kg N/ha/yr in above-ground biomass (NE Thailand, Clermont-Dauphin et al. 2016) |
| N from the air (Ndfa) | 85 to 93% (same trial) |
| Biomass production (one trial) | About 8 Mg/ha/yr above ground under young rubber (Clermont-Dauphin et al. 2016) |
| Time to ground cover | 60 to 70% cover at about 4 months, 90 to 100% at 8 months (PROSEA 11); hard seed needs scarification |
Product details
PLANT CHARACTER
Fast-growing, trailing to twining annual/short-lived perennial legume. Forms a dense, self-regenerating ground cover under plantation canopies. Deep root system contributes to subsoil moisture access and nutrient cycling.
USES
Nitrogen fixation, erosion control, soil moisture retention, potassium cycling, weed suppression, and cover crop for replanting phases. In one rubber-intercrop trial in northeast Thailand, Pueraria javanica reached 85 to 93% Ndfa over four years and accumulated up to 250 kg N/ha/yr in aboveground biomass (Clermont-Dauphin et al. 2016, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 217:79-88). That is nitrogen measured in the cover's own biomass in a single trial, and an upper reference point rather than a figure to design a fertiliser programme against. The same study found the cover reduced the drought resilience of young rubber trees on water-limited ground, which should weigh in any decision to use PJ on drought-prone sites. In young rubber in Côte d'Ivoire, a Pueraria cover sown in the inter-row reduced runoff by 88% and soil loss by 98% versus bare soil, measured on 1 m² plots over three years; adding spread logging residues almost eliminated both (Perron et al., 2024, Science of the Total Environment 913:169335). For optimal germination results, pair with Seed Activator during planting. See also: PJ vs MB Comparison.
GROWTH HABIT
Vigorous establishment under full sun and moderate shade. Reaches 60 to 70% ground cover at about 4 months and 90 to 100% at about 8 months (PROSEA 11). In the northeast Thailand rubber trial, aboveground biomass was about 8 Mg/ha/yr (Clermont-Dauphin et al. 2016).
COCONUT & MULTI-CROP USE
Established as a basin legume in coconut, Pueraria javanica was reported to contribute 28.45 kg of fresh biomass and 196.2 g of shoot nitrogen per basin, with tops harvested 120 days after sowing in laterite soil in Kerala, India (Thomas & Shantaram, 1993, CORD 9(1)). We do not publish a fertiliser-replacement percentage: what a cover contributes to your nutrient budget depends on biomass, site and management, and should be verified against your own soil and leaf analysis rather than assumed as a fixed credit.
PLANTING TYPE & SEEDING RATE
Recommended seeding rate (sown alone): 10 kg/ha; Chemiseed recommendation (2026 catalogue). This rate is for PJ 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 peat (MPOB TT No. 501, Information Series 588, June 2012, Table 1 treatment C2) used a mixture of PJ 4 : CP 3 : CC 1, a total of 8 kg/ha, with 5 g Rhizobium (RRI strain) per kg of seed, with PJ as the dominant component.
PLANTING METHOD
Direct sowing, drilled or planted in holes. Broadcasting does not guarantee good germination, especially where the soil dries out easily.
DRY MATTER PRODUCTION
5 to 10 t DM/ha in pure stands (Tropical Forages, CIAT and ILRI 2020)
NO. OF SEEDS/KG
60,000 to 90,000 seeds (Tropical Forages, CIAT and ILRI 2020, where the species is listed as Neustanthus phaseoloides)
SUPPLIED BY CHEMISEED SDN. BHD.
Pueraria javanica seeds are supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian supplier of legume cover crop seed and soil conditioners to plantations since 2003.
AVAILABILITY: WORLDWIDE ON REQUEST
We supply buyers worldwide on request, from Malaysia. 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. Contact Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. for a quotation and export logistics.
Related Resources
- Cover Crop Comparison: PJ, CM, CP, MB
- PJ vs MB Detailed Comparison
- Complete Guide to Pueraria javanica
- Best Cover Crop for Oil Palm
- Best Cover Crop for Rubber
- Cover Crop Calculator
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Seed Activator, Boost Germination
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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.
Last reviewed June 2026 by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd.
Research findings
By the numbers
Each figure below is reported by the source named beneath it, and applies to that study's own site and management. They are not performance guarantees for Chemiseed seed.
Figures above are as reported by the sources named, and describe those studies rather than a guaranteed outcome on your site. Seeds supplied by Chemiseed Sdn. Bhd. to buyers worldwide on request. View Perron et al. 2024 erosion study
What does the research say about Pueraria javanica (PJ)?
- Clermont-Dauphin et al. (2016), Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 217: 79-88: about 8 Mg/ha/yr above-ground biomass and up to 250 kg N/ha/yr accumulated in it under young rubber in northeast Thailand, 85 to 93% of it from fixation; the same trial found the cover reduced young rubber trees' drought resilience on water-limited ground.
- Perron et al. (2024), Science of the Total Environment 913: 169335: in young rubber in Côte d'Ivoire, a Pueraria cover in the inter-row cut runoff by 88% and soil loss by 98% against bare soil on 1 m2 plots over three years; adding spread logging residues almost eliminated both.
- Thomas and Shantaram (1993), CORD 9(1): 34: PJ and CM grown in coconut basins in laterite soil in Kerala, India (25 g seed per basin, tops harvested 120 days after sowing).
- Senarathne and Udumann (2021), CORD 37: 33-44: in a six-year trial on 50-year-old coconut in Sri Lanka, nut yield under a Pueraria cover rose relative to the trial's control, with gains only in years 4 to 6.
- PROSEA 11 (1997): PJ reaches 60 to 70% cover at about 4 months and 90 to 100% at 8 months.
Where does Pueraria javanica (PJ) work best?
Best for
- Immature rubber plantations
- Coconut systems and coconut basin management
- Erosion-prone slopes
- Acid tropical soils
- Legume cover crop mixtures
Not ideal for
- Prolonged dry seasons or drought-prone regions
- Mature shaded canopy without companion species (CC or CP)
- Areas where rapid initial cover is critical (CM is faster)
What Pueraria javanica (PJ) will not do
PJ does not increase latex yield in rubber. There is no published evidence supporting a direct latex yield improvement from PJ cover. PJ does not prevent Tapping Panel Dryness. For coconut yield claims, the comparator matters: yield improvements are relative to bare-soil or unmanaged basins, not to other cover crop systems. On water-limited ground the cover can compete with young trees for water (Clermont-Dauphin et al. 2016). Hard-seed dormancy means untreated seed germinates poorly, so scarify before sowing.
How to establish and use Pueraria javanica (PJ)
Recommended seeding rate (sown alone): 10 kg/ha (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue). This rate is for PJ 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. Scarify the seed before sowing because of hard-seed dormancy. In coconut systems, follow the Thomas and Shantaram 1993 protocol for basin establishment. For erosion control on slopes, PJ can be combined with CM for fast initial cover followed by PJ persistence.
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 (rubber, coconut, oil palm)
- Soil type and approximate pH
- Annual rainfall and dry season length
- Terrain (flat, sloped)
- Planting area in hectares
- Whether you need scarified or untreated 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 Pueraria javanica (PJ)
What is the recommended seeding rate for Pueraria javanica?
The recommended seeding rate for PJ sown alone is 10 kg/ha (Chemiseed recommendation, 2026 catalogue). For a mixture, the quantity of each species is set on the quotation for your site. Scarified seed is strongly recommended.
Does Pueraria javanica increase rubber latex yield?
There is no published evidence that PJ directly increases rubber latex yield. The documented benefits in rubber systems are nitrogen accumulation, weed suppression and erosion reduction. PJ also does not prevent Tapping Panel Dryness.
Why is seed scarification important for PJ?
PJ seed has hard-seed dormancy: water cannot enter the seed until the coat is broken, so untreated seed germinates poorly and unevenly. Mechanical or acid scarification before sowing gives more uniform establishment.
How does Pueraria javanica perform in coconut systems?
PJ is used as a basin cover crop in coconut systems following the Thomas and Shantaram 1993 protocol. In a six-year Sri Lankan trial, nut yield under a Pueraria cover rose relative to the trial's control, with gains only in years 4 to 6 (Senarathne and Udumann 2021).
What is PJ's role in erosion control?
PJ's dense surface biomass protects the soil once it covers the ground. In young rubber in Côte d'Ivoire, a Pueraria cover in the inter-row cut runoff by 88 percent and soil loss by 98 percent against bare soil on 1 m2 plots over three years; adding spread logging residues almost eliminated both (Perron et al. 2024).
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
