A Preliminary Evaluation of Lablab Biomass Productivity in Virginia

A field study was conducted for two years with seventeen lablab [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] lines to characterize its productivity under Virginia’s agro-climatic conditions and to determine lablab’s potential as a forage crop. One sample per replication (0.3 m row length) was harvested approximately 90 days after planting to record fresh weight. These samples were dried to a constant weight to record dry weights. Dry and fresh yields were not affected by lines and year of production. Overall means of fresh and dry yields varied from 47 to 91 with a mean of 62, and 9 to 15 with a mean of 13 Mg/ha, respectively. Year of production had significant effects on concentrations of P, K, S, Mg, Mn, Cu, and Zn. Concentrations of protein, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Al, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, and Zn in lablab produced in Virginia were 15, 0.28, 2.30, 1.32, 0.27, 0.22, 224, 20, 18, 343, 79, 0.03, and 40, respectively. Quality of lablab forage compared well with literature values of other forage legumes especially alfalfa. Lablab biomass in this study contained 60, 45, and 15 percent ADF, NDF, and lignin, respectively indicating that it may also be a potential feedstock for bio-ethanol manufacture.