Twelve species of tropical legumes (Crotalaria juncea L, Cajanus cajan L, Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp, Calopogonium mucunoides L, Canavalia ensiformis L, Dolichos lab lab L, Pueraria phaseoloides L, Macroptilium atropurpureum L, Leucaena leucocephala L, Clitoria ternatea L, Styzolobium aterrimum L, Styzolobium cinereum Piper and Tracy) was evaluated for use as green manure or cover crops in an experiment in Alagoinha-PB, Brazil. The used experimental design was a ramdomized complete block design, with 12 treatments in plots of 20m2, with three repetitions .The largest biomass quantities were produced for Leucaena leucocephala, Cajanus cajan, Styzolobium aterrimum, Pueraria phaseoloides, Canavalia ensiformis and Clitoria ternatea, while Crotalaria juncea, produced the smallest biomass. The biomass of Pueraria phaseoloides, was shown with better quality for the incorporation.
legumes; mulch; soil management and conservation
