Soil cover
Pinto peanut is a good ground cover crop that can completely cover the soil in less than 6 months (Ecocrop, 2014). Pinto peanut has been used in Costa Rica and Colombia for protection of steep roadsides (Abdul-Baki et al., 2002). In Asia, pinto peanut is used as a cover crop in oil palm plantations (Khamseekhiew et al., 2001). Pinto peanut was assessed as a cover crop in banana plantations in the West Indies and in Costa Rica where it was suggested that it could decrease nematode infestation (Quénéhervé et al., 2002; Vargas-Calvo, 1998).
Live mulch, weed controller and weed potential
Pinto peanut is used as a live mulch for soil conservation and weed suppression, particularly in shaded situations such as under trees and vines. Once established, pinto peanut may outcompete weeds and is thus useful for weed control. In its early stages, it may be useful to control weeds to ease its development (Abdul-Baki et al., 2002). In the subtropics it can be used in no-till or low-till systems in combination with ryegrass (Cook, 2007). Pinto peanut may become a weed in warmer areas (Cook et al., 2005).