Pueraria Phaseoloides
Pueraria Phaseoloides is native to Malaysia, although it is widely distributed throughout the world in the wet tropics also in the South of India. Common Names: Puero (Australia), Tropical Kudzu (most of Tropics).
Description
Vigorous twining and climbing, slightly woody, hairy perennial legume, deep rooting and rather slender. Its main stems are about 0.6 cm in diameter and may extend for 5 to 6 meters. They may root at the nodes and from the nodes a number of lateral or secondary branches are formed. These intertwine and may result in a tangled mass of vegetation 60 to 75 cm deep within eight to nine months of sowing. The young shoots are densely covered with brown hairs. The leaves are large and trifoliate, borne on petioles 5 to 10 cm long covered with ascending hairs.
Cultivation
Pueraria Phaseoloides is an exceptionally vigorous legume with runners up to 25 feet (8-9 meters) long. Propagation is either by seed or cutting, but seed must be scarified in hot water before planting. Seedling will grow somewhat slowly (though much faster than other cover crops) for the first 3 to 4 months. Growth is very vigorous once established. Complete establishment and use as a ground cover will require several years of growth. Pueraria Phaseoloides is best adapted to hot and wet conditions. It thrives in areas with an annual rainfall in excess of 1525 mm (60 in). Pueraria Phaseoloides tolerate high water content in the soil - even occasional water logging - but also grows well in the dry season, producing an abundance of pods and flowers. It is also tolerant of acid soil and shade.
Rainfall Requirements
Grow best in a rainfall exceeding 2 500 mm or in swampy land in areas of lower rainfall.
Ability to spread naturally
Spreads mainly by runners and in this way colonize widely on suitable soils with adequate rainfall.
Land preparation for establishment
As early growth is slow, seed should be sown into a weed-free seedbed. It responds to good seedbed preparation, which controls weeds by cultivation after the initial ploughing. Can also be established readily in the ashes of a forest burn..
Seed treatment before planting to break dormancy
- Treat with concentrated sulphuric acid (sp. Gr. 1.8) for 20 minutes, wash and dry..
- Put in hot water at 50 to 700 C for several hours and allow to cool.
- Immerse in glycerin at 500 C for one hour – this increase germination from 10 to 50 percent.
Sowing methods
Seed is usually broadcast or drilled in. In some parts it is hand planted (15 to 20 seeds every 3 m mixed with the top 2.5 cm of soil). Drill in rows 1 m apart. Can also be propagated by cutting 0.7 to 1 m long planted at two per point on a 1 - to 2 - m grid. Establishment can be achieved by over sowing into existing pasture if the pasture is disced or burnt beforehand. Usually, however, it will not establish in grass, but grass will establish in the legume. It is best sown in midsummer to coincide with the wet season. Sow at 1 to 2 kg./ha in mixture. We recommend 3 to 6 kg./ha scarified or 8 to 10 k./ha unscarified seed for sowing down the center of sisal rows, which are 3.5 m wide. Sow at 1.5 cm and roll or harrow.
Performance
Pueraria has been an excellent cover crop to prevent soil erosion and to contribute nitrogen in plantation crops in the tropics for many years. It was found that Pueraria gave very good protection to the soil.