Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the productivity, competition indices and nutrient content of Brachiaria decumbens (grass) , Centrosema pubescen s and Clitoria ternatea (legumes) as sole and mixed cropping system in peatland in Pekanbaru, Indonesia from October 2011 to November 2012. The experiment was set up in randomized complete block design with five treatments and three blocks as replication. Five treatments compared: B. decumbens sole cropping (Bd), C. pubescens sole cropping (Cp), C. ternatea sole cropping (Ct), B. .decumbens and C. pubesce ns mixed cropping (Bd+Cp) and B. decumbens and C. .ternatea mixed cropping (Bd+Ct). The dry matter (DM) yield of B. decumbens was significantly (P 1. The aggressivity (A) value of B. decumbens in both mixed cropping was positive. The crude protein (CP) content of B.decumbens did not significantly (P>0.05) increased by mixed cropping with legumes. Intercropping with B. decumbens significantly (P<0.05) decreased CP content of C. ternatea. Meanwhile neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) content of B. decumbens did not decrease by intercropping with C.pubescens and C. ternatea. In conclusion, mixed cropping with C. pubescens and C. ternatea in peatland increased DM yield of B. decumbens . Mixed cropping with B. decumbens did not influence DM yield of C. pubescens and decreased DM yield and CP content of C. .ternatea . Mixed cropping of B. decumbens with C. pubescens and B. decumbens with C..ternatea in peatland did not increase total DM yield of forage per unit area of land and nutrition contents of forage. B. decumbens was more competitive and dominant than C. .pubescens and C. ternatea in peatland.
Highlights
Productivity of forage is influenced by species of forage, environmental and soil condition (Jayanegara & Sofyan 2008)
B. decumbens dry matter (DM) yield in C. pubescens intercrop increased by 147.9% and in C. ternatea intercrop increased by 74.1% compare to sole B. decumbens
Mixed cropping with B. decumbens did not influence DM yield of C. pubescens and decreased DM yield and crude protein (CP) content of C..ternatea
Summary
Productivity of forage is influenced by species of forage, environmental and soil condition (Jayanegara & Sofyan 2008). The quality of pasture can be improved by improving pasture plant diversity (Whitehead 2000), intercropping pattern (Whitehead & Isaac 2012) and using the forage species that can grow well in dry season. Grass-legume intercroping are more difficult to manage than monoculture pasture because of competition for light, water and nutrients (Albayrak & Ekiz 2005), or allelopathic that occur between mixed crops (Lithourgidis et al 2011; Santalla et al 2001). The productivity of B..decumbens, C..pubescens and C..ternatea as sole and mixed cropping and its cultivation management in peatland (organosol) need to be explored. This study was conducted to determine the productivity, competition indices and nutritive value of B. decumbens, C. pubescens and C. ternatea as sole and mixed cropping patterns in peatland
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