Vigna aconitifolia

Indian moth bean, pillipesara, mat bean

Herbaceous creeping annual; native to India and Pakistan. A drought-resistant, hot-season fodder plant yielding palatable pasture and hay. Useful in mixtures with lablab, pigeon pea and Sudan grass. Relished by livestock and can be grown on all types of soils. Although it is an annual of only five months' duration, it can serve as a pasture legume as it reseeds itself if allowed to become well established before being grazed.

As % of dry matter

DM

CP

CF

Ash

EE

NFE

Ca

P

Ref

Fresh aerial part,

India

15.5

19.7

12.6

1.9

50.3

2.37

0.54

378

Haulm, India

9.6

19.4

14.1

2.9

54.0

3.01

0.24

"

Hay, USA

86.2

17.2

29.4

12.0

1.7

39.7

161

Hay, India

10.6

26.8

13.8

1.9

46.9

2.34

0.18

436

Pods, India

9.6

19.4

14.4

2.9

53.7

2.01

0.25

"

Seeds, India

26.6

5.3

5.6

0.6

61.9

0.35

0.38

"

Digestibility (%)

Animal

CP

CF

EE

NFE

ME

Ref

Hay

Sheep

67.0

52.0

10.0

65.0

2.00

161