Lionel Maeliu at Gwaunafiu Farmer School showed us this amazing cover crop system he has developed using ‘Ladoa bean’ — a vigorous cover crop similar to Mucuna but much more vigorous in its growth.
It surpresses most other weeds and completely takes over the site. It produced deep mats of organic matter. Lionel and Leslie slash it back and plant taro and other crops. it shoots from the roots which they prune for mulch. After the crop the cover crop restores on its own. The system has allowed highly productive taro systems on land normally considered too infertile for taro.
The legume is multiplied using vine cuttings and it has never set seed. We believe it is Calopogonium caeruleum — see image below.
The material will soon be available for PMN members.