Abstract
Pines are the largest tree forests in West of Java so that they are very potential to be developed as an agroforestry system. Forage crop potentially to be cultivated in the agroforestry system. The aim of the research was to study the response of the grasses grown under pines forest. The experiment was conducted at pines forest area arranged in randomized complete block design. The treatments were 3 grasses (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Taiwan, P. purpureum (local) and Pennisetum purpureophoides (king grass). Data collected were productivity, agronomic performance (plant height, tiller), forage production and quality. The result shows that shoot production of Taiwan cultivar was significantly higher than local P. purpureum. It was produced 498.4 g/clump on rainy season and 287.0 g/clump at dry season. At dry season forage production was decreased by 39,9%/ha. Nutrient composition at rainy season, crude fibre of grass was 39.89%; Ca 0.04%; P 0.26%; ash 12.46%; energy 4239.5 kcal/kg and crude protein 8.23%; while at the mid of dry season crude fibre was 38.43%; Ca 0.035%; P 0.26%; ash 11,43%; energy 3943 kcal/kg and crude protein 8.94%.
 Key words: pines, forestry, forage, production, quality
Highlights
Forage is the most component of feed in ruminant
Area for forage production is decreasing since shift into other function
Integration forest and forage crop need strategy in managing, so that symbiose mutualism occurred between two crops
Summary
Forage is the most component of feed in ruminant. the quantity, quality and availability of forage is crucial for optimal livestock production. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) know as elephant grass, is a deep rooted high yielding, perennial grass that is native to eastern and Central Africa (Boonman, 1995, Nyambati et al, 2010) It grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions with a wide range of annual from 750 – 2500 mm rainfall and in altitudes ranging from sea level to altitudes of pastura ❖ Volume 8 Nomor 2 Tahun 2019 p-ISSN 2088-818X e-ISSN 2549-8444 over 2100 m. This grass has been cultivated by farmers widely as main source of forage for ruminant. Their productivity was low at pines forest area and need to be improved. Purnomo and Sitompul (2006) light intensity under pines is approximately 14% which is very low for plant growth
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