Vigna trilobata

Vigna trilobata is mostly found on well-drained, alkaline, dark, cracking clay soils, but also on sandy and loamy soils of similar reaction and can rarely be found on poorly drained soils.^[2] One of its major features is its strong resistance to drought, though the seeds shatter in frost. It is also moderately tolerant of salinity.^[3] Under well-watered conditions, flowering and seed set is continuous but sparse. However, under moisture stress, plants respond with more dense flowering, far greater seed production and a reduction in vegetative growth. The annual rainfall at areas where Vigna trilobata grows ranges from 700–900 mm (28–35 in). The species is native to a largely tropical area extending from 24ºN in India to 9ºS in Indonesia, and from near sea level to greater than 700 m (2,300 ft) above sea level, mostly equating to average annual temperatures around 25–27 °C (77–81 °F). It is tolerant of regular or constant heavy grazing, but not of infrequent heavy grazing when a bulk of foliage is rapidly removed.^[4]

Vigna trilobata is cultivated in India, Pakistan, and Sudan for short-term pasturage. It is valued highly as it is very tolerant of grazing and is very palatable, even being a human food alternative. However, it tends to have a very low yield.^[5]