Observations on the forage potential of velvet bean

A field trial was conducted with velvet bean (Mucuna spp.) planted during the Maha season of 1983/84. Whole crop samples of the above ground dry matter were taken at four different stages of growth (60, 90, 120 and 150 days) to assess the interaction of dry matter yield and forage quality during maturity. Dry matter yield increased with maturity, but quality parameters steadily declined. The results suggest that the velvet bean forage should be harvested around 90 days. Harvested at this maturity, a dry matter yield of 3.1 tonnes per hectare, with a crude protein content of 20.6% and 55.4% in vitro digestibility, could be obtained.