Genetic Resources of Shade Tolerant Forage Crops

Abstract

Forage crops are planted mostly in marginal land or integrated with other crops. Estate crops land is one of the alternative areas for forage crops plantation. Shortage of forage crops development under crop plantation is caused by limited light intensity, due to crop shading. Selecting forage crops adapted to estate crops plantation is crusial to achieve its high production and quality. Several grasses and legumes have been identified as forage crops that tolerant to shading of less than 40%, 40-60% and more than 60% light intensity. Some of them have been applied in the area of oil palm plantation to support the acceleration of livestock population.Key words: Grass, legume, genetic resources, shade tolerant ABSTRAK Tanaman Pakan Ternak (TPT) pada umumnya ditanam pada lahan marjinal atau berintegrasi dengan tanaman lainnya. Lahan perkebunan adalah salah satu area yang mempunyai peluang untuk budidaya TPT. Keterbatasan pengembangan TPT di lahan perkebunan adalah kurangnya intensitas sinar matahari, akibat adanya naungan dari tanaman perkebunan. Pemilihan jenis TPT yang tepat sangat krusial untuk memperoleh produksi dan kualitas TPT yang tinggi. Telah teridentifikasi berbagai jenis rumput dan legimunosa yang tahan terhadap naungan pada intensitas cahaya kurang dari 40%, 40-60% dan lebih dari 60%. Pengembangan beberapa TPT yang tahan naungan tersebut telah dilakukan di perkebunan kelapa sawit untuk mendukung percepatan peningkatan populasi ternak.

Productivity of Benggala grass (Panicum maximum) at different ages of oil palm

“…Forage that will be developed in the plantation area, must be tolerant of shade [4]. One of the forages, which is tolerant of moderate shade conditions is Benggala Grass (Panicum maximum) [5].…”