Lablab (Lablab purpureus)
Overview
Lablab is a tropical perennial legume used for grazing, hay, green manure, and soil fertility improvement. It establishes vigorously under summer rainfall and can persist 3–5 years with good management.
Key Features
Deep taproot confers drought tolerance
High crude protein leaves (25–30%)
Fixes atmospheric nitrogen
Key Benefits
Improves subsequent cereal or grass yields
Non-bloating, safe for mixed grazing
Complements grass in mixed swards
Agronomy and Management
Best in well-drained soils pH 5.5–7.5
Rainfall: 600–2 500 mm, summer-dominant
Minimal fertilizer; benefits from P and S on sands
Establishment
Seed rate: 10–12 kg/ha in mixtures; 25–30 kg/ha pure
Drilled 2–3 cm deep at onset of reliable rains
Light harrowing to cover seed
Pest and Disease Resistance
Good general resistance; watch for root-knot nematodes
Rotate after 3–4 years to break Phytophthora pressure
Performance
Leaf/stem yields: 2–4 t DM/ha per cut
Grain yield: 1–2.5 t/ha (variety dependent)
Animal Production
Leaf crude protein: 26–38%
Stem crude protein: 7–20%
Live-weight gains up to 1 kg/head/day
Suggested Sowing Rates
Pure stand: 25–30 kg/ha
With grasses: 10–12 kg/ha
More on Lab lab
LAB LAB (rongai dolicos)
➡Is a fast growing summer annual or a short tropical legume, used to feed ruminant animals.
– Lab lab has excellent water use efficiency
– is drought tolerant
– Reaches flowering 30-40 days
– Easy to establish with large seed that can be sown directly into the moisture
– can be sown with summer grasses (eg forage sorghum, pearl millet) to provide mixed forage system.
– up to three grazing or cuttings are possible
– high nutritive value (CP of 21-30%)
– digestibility ranges
– from 55-76%
– yields about 6t-9t DM
– planting rate 20-30kg /ha/season
– price $2/kg
for more information
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