Invasiveness
Because of its vigorous fast-growing habit, tropical kudzu was listed as one of the most aggressive weeds invading moist habitats in tropical and subtropical regions in the USA and in Australia (Randall, 2012; USDA, 2012). It is declared a noxious weed in the USA and an invasive plant in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Puerto Rico and the Pacific Islands (Hawaii, French Polynesia, Niue and New Caledonia) (CABI, 2013). Tropical kudzu is a pioneering species that smothers neighbour plants under a solid blanket of leaves. It can break branches and uproot entire trees and shrubs (CABI, 2013).
N-fixing legume, soil improver and soil erosion controller
Tropical kudzu is an N-fixing legume. It could fix 100 to 300 kg N/ha (Jørgensen, 2013; Neyra, 1992). In tree plantations, tropical kudzu has two main roles: it returns N to the soil and provides leaf-litter (organic matter) to the neighbouring trees (Tajuddin et al., 1990; Soong et al, 1976 cited by CABI, 2013).