ABSTRACT
In the coastal tablelands and hilly areas in the southwest of Hainan Island, many farmers grow a legume crop known as Ya Zhou Hyacinth Bean (YZHB) (Amphicarpaea sp.) in their upland fields every year, while other crops are discontinued for five to seven months in the winter and spring because of dry weather. YZHB is indigenous to Hainan Island; its bean is a nutritious vegetable, and its vines are used as livestock fodder. Its cultivation is very extensive, and it requires no weeding, fertilizer, or efforts to control diseases or pests. The beans are harvested about 100 days after germination. Although the output of YZHB is only 450 to 2,250 kg/ha, it is still a popular crop because it is so easily managed. Growing Ya Zhou hyacinth beans in the dry season is, therefore, a desirable way of intensifying the use of fallow land.
