Weed controller and weed potential
Well established siratro competes well with weeds. In fertilized soils, siratro sown after burning Imperata cylindrica was reported to overtop the grass within 5 months (FAO, 2012). This competing ability also makes it a potential weed in ungrazed areas such as roadsides and degraded lands. It is considered a weed in sugarcane crops since the climbing stems tend to hinder mechanical harvesting (Cook et al., 2005).
Soil improver and cover crop
Siratro readily nodulates and fixes N, from 55 to 175 kg N/ha/year (FAO, 2012; Cook et al., 2005). Siratro can be used as a cover crop though it does not spread as quickly as large-seeded legumes (Zegda et al., 1998). Siratro is used as living mulch in banana plantations, where it increases banana yields (Espindola et al., 2006).