Lablab is a warm-seasonannual legume that produces abundant summer forage that is preferred by deer. Lablab is basically a large cowpea. The leaves are highly digestible and are very high in protein (23% to 38% protein). Lablab is very susceptible to overgrazing when the plants are young, so it either needs to be fenced when it begins growing, or should be planted in plots larger than 5 acres in size to spread out early grazing pressure. Once the plant is established it will tolerate grazing.
Lablab site requirements
Lablab is very heat and drought tolerant so it can be grown well in the arid climates of the south. It will also grow in other regions where soybeans and cowpeas are grown. It prefers sandy clay loam soils with pH above 5.0. It will not tolerate poorly drained soils.
Planting lablab
Lablab can be planted alone in large plots, or mixed with other warm-season forages. The two common varieties of lablab available for planting in deer food plots are Dolichos and Rongai. The following are suggested forage mixtures that include lablab:
lablab, cowpeas and/or soybeans
lablab, cowpeas, corn and/or forage sorghum
lablab, corn and/or forage sorghum
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