Soil improver
Stylo is a N-fixing legume that readily nodulates and improves soil N mineral status. It is able to extract P from soils that are very poor in this nutrient and it is tolerant of low Mo levels. In Laos, stylo fallow increased rice yield and decreased weed biomass (Saito et al., 2006). In Nigeria, a stylo fallow preceding a maize crop resulted in a yield of maize similar to that obtained with the addition of 45 kg N/ha (Tarawali, 1991).
Weed controller
Stylo was reported to control weeds such as Striga asiatica, Rottboellia exaltata, Borreria alata, Boerhavia diffusa and Imperata cylindrica (Husson et al., 2008).