LegumeAnnual / weak perennialWarm season

Lablab

Lablab purpureus

A drought-tolerant tropical legume for high-quality forage, green manure, warm-season soil cover and mixed crop–livestock systems.

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Technical variety profile

At a glance

Authoritative forage guides describe lablab as a deep-rooted, multipurpose crop with high-protein leaves, strong drought performance and compatibility with sorghum, millet and maize.

Forage biomass1.4–2.5 t DM/acTexas cultivar trials

Leaf crude protein21–38%Published species range

Monoculture rate12–20 kg/ha

Grass-mixture rate5–8 kg/ha

Best temperature18–30°C

Soil pH5.0–7.5

Best fit

Where Lablab belongs

Warm-season forage, hay and silageDryland pasture and crop–livestock systemsRow-crop rotations needing nitrogen and soil coverMixtures with sorghum, millet or maizeManaged wildlife browse and deer food plots

#forage#nitrogen#drought#green-manure#wildlife

Why it performs

Three reasons to shortlist it

Forage quality

Palatable, protein-rich foliage can support grazing, browse, hay or silage when maturity and utilization are managed.

Drought and rooting

A deep root system accesses subsoil moisture and contributes organic inputs that support soil physical function.

Multipurpose legume

Adds biological nitrogen to green-manure, row-crop and cereal–legume systems while providing usable biomass.

Technical data

Comparable specifications

Forage biomass1.4–2.5 t DM/acTexas cultivar trials

Leaf crude protein21–38%Published species range

Monoculture rate12–20 kg/haTechnical reference

Grass-mixture rate5–8 kg/haTechnical reference

Best temperature18–30°CTechnical reference

Soil pH5.0–7.5Technical reference

Growth habitVining, herbaceous annual or weak perennialTechnical reference

LightFull sunTechnical reference

Drought toleranceHigh once establishedTechnical reference

Waterlogging toleranceLow; requires drainageTechnical reference

Planting depth2.5–4 cm in a prepared seedbedTechnical reference

InoculationAppropriate lablab or cowpea-group rhizobiaTechnical reference

Primary usesForage, hay, silage, cover crop, green manureTechnical reference

Companion cropsSorghum, millet and maizeTechnical reference

Primary product documents

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Lablab Tech Sheet

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Ficha Técnica de Lablab

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Establishment

Build the stand correctly

01Plant after frost risk into warm soil on a sunny, well-drained site.
02Prepare a clean seedbed because seedlings compete poorly with weeds before the stand develops.
03Use 12–20 kg/ha in monoculture or 5–8 kg/ha in grass mixtures, then localize the rate to seed size and planting method.
04Inoculate with the locally approved lablab or cowpea-group rhizobia where effective native strains are uncertain.

Management

Turn potential into performance

Use forage before flowering for the best balance of leaf proportion, quality and stem maturity.
Use rotational rather than frequent severe grazing; protect enough residual stem and leaf area for regrowth.
Cut green-manure stands before flowering and synchronize incorporation or termination with the next crop.
When intercropped with maize, separate planting dates or rows to manage early competition.

Limitations & safety

Know where it does not fit

Lablab does not tolerate prolonged waterlogging or moderate to heavy shade.
Cultivars differ widely in flowering response, maturity, forage form and cold tolerance.
Frequent severe defoliation can thin or eliminate the stand.
Raw mature seed contains anti-nutritional compounds and requires appropriate processing before human consumption.

Technical resources