Indlubu is an African indigenous ground bean which plays an important role in the local culture of eMalangeni
Indlubu is an African indigenous ground bean belonging to the legumes in the plant family Fabacaceae having the botanical name Vigna subterranea and known in English as Bambara groundnut. Indlubu was probably brought to and grown in this region through migration of the inguni indigenous peoples who brought it as far south as KwaZulu-Natal. Presently the cultivation of indlubu is confined to the Northern Province and KwaZulu-Natal.
Indlubu is an African indigenous ground bean which plays an important role in the local culture of eMalangeni
Indlubu which plays an important role in the local culture of eMalangeni is very tasty when cooked in salt water and eaten as a snack, they are just like salted peanuts or potato crisps. once you have had one you simply cannot stop eating them until the whole lot are eaten.
Description
Indlubu Vigna subterranea is an annual, much branched, prostrate creeping leguminous plant, grown primarily for its very tasty nutritious edible seeds. In Africa, indlubu is the third eaten legume after namantongomane peanuts Arachis hypogaea and cowpea Vigna unguiculata.
The beans of Indlubu Vigna subterranea which is an African indigenous ground bean
Origin and geographic distribution
The center of origin of indlubu groundnut is probably north-eastern Nigeria and northern Cameroon. It is found in the wild from central Nigeria eastwards to southern Sudan, and is now cultivated throughout tropical Africa, and to a lesser extent in tropical parts of the Americas, Asia and Australia. Its use as a pulse in West Africa was recorded by Arabic travelers in the14th Century. Its importance declined after the introduction of groundnut from the New World tropics.
Importance
Indlubu represents the third most important grain legume in semi-arid Africa, Indlubu is resistant to high temperature and is suitable for marginal soils where other leguminous crops cannot be grown.
Sadly indlubu has largely been ignored by the scientific community being regarded as a poor man's crop.
Traditional grain storage hut isididi or inqolobane at eMalangeni Forest Kosi Bay iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Uses
Indlubu is grown primarily for its seeds, which are used in many types of foods. Mature, dry seeds are boiled and eaten as a pulse. Dried seeds, either whole or split, are also mixed with maize then boiled. The seeds may be ground into flour, sometimes after roasting, to prepare a porridge. They are also added to maize flour to enrich traditional preparations. Sometimes seeds are soaked in water and ground into a paste which is used to prepare fried or steamed dishes. Immature seeds are often boiled with salt and eaten as a snack.
The seeds and left overs are fed to poultry, and the leafy shoots are used as fodder for goats, Zulu sheep and cows.
Indigenous Zulu fowl hens
Indlubu played an important role in the agriculture and of diets of the local people of the eMalangeni area before they were forcefully removed to make way for the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Today indlubu still plays an important role in the local cuisine.
The local people make a very tasty soup out of peanuts Arachis hypogaea and ground beans Indlubu Vigna subterranea and use them in very many other dishes.
A local woman pounding peanut seeds to make a tasty soup to which indlubu groundnut is added
In the Local area it was believed that men that went away to work for long periods of time had to eat Indlubu on their return to cleanse themselves of possible diseases before having intercourse with their wives
Climatic requirements
Optimal conditions for growth are 30-35°C day-temperature for germination, average day temperatures ranging from 20 to 28°C under full sun, average annual rainfall of 600-750 mm (optimum yields are obtained when rainfall is higher), good P and K soil content and light sandy loams with a pH of 5.0-6.5. Indlubu can grow in more humid conditions (annual rainfall > 2000 mm), and in every type of soil provided it is well drained and not too calcareous. It is tolerant to drought, to pests and diseases, particularly in hot conditions. In many traditional cropping systems it is intercropped with other root and tuber crops
iZimvu indigenous Zulu sheep at eMalangeni Forest Bush Camp iSimangaliso Wetland park
Soil requirements
Optimal soils for Indlubu production are sandy soils to prevent waterlogging. Optimal soil depth is between 50 and 100 cm, with a light soil texture. Soil fertility should be low and soil pH is best suited between 5 and 6.5 and should not be lower than 4.3 or higher than 7.
Cropping system
Indlubu are suited to and were intercropped with ummbila maize, amabele sorghum, unyawothi pearly millet, ithanga pumpkin, ubhatata sweet potato and umdumbula cassava at eMalangeni.
Unyawothi Cenchrus americanus has been grown in Africa since ancient times as has been indlubu, the center of diversity, and suggested area of domestication for the crop is in the Sahel zone of West Africa. Zulu beer Umqombothi was traditionally brewed from unyawothi pearl millet and amabele sorghum.
Growth cycle
The growth cycle is between 90–170 days and under optimal conditions the cycle is about 120–150 days to pod maturity. Flowers appear 40–60 days after planting. 30 days after pollination the pod reaches maturity and during another 55 days the seeds fully develop. Every 30 days they are produced again. Like the peanut Vigna subterranea ripens its pods underground.
Like most other legumes, Indlubu harbor symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the root nodules. The capacity to fix nitrogen means Indlubu require less nitrogen-containing fertilizer and they improve soil fertility, making them valuable in crop rotations.
Indigenous Zulu goat, Makhathini Ecotype Mbuzi, eMalangeni Forest Bush Camp iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Guided excursions
Please join us on one of our many guided excursions conducted in Zulu, English or German into the eMalangeni Forest, Kosi Bay area, Tembe Elephant Park the home of the world largest elephants and other surrounding natural areas. Please visit one of my websites for my contact details.
Michael Hickman
14.04.21
Please visit my websites at
as well as my other blogs at
http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/
http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/
