Anatomy adaptation of Ketak (Lygodium circinatum (Burm.) Sw) to relative light intensity in agroforestry systems, on Senaru Education Forest, West Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

Ketak requires other plant as a climbing host for tendrils in order to get light. Research on the types of stands that affect tendril production in agroforestry systems is needed. This study aimed to determine anatomical adaptation of ketak at various types of stands and relative light intensity in agroforestry systems. The research method used a randomized block design. There were 2 treatments i.e. the stand type (natural stands, coffee stands, gliricidia stands, and mahogany stands) and Relative Light Intensity (RLI). Each stand consists of 3 blocks with 30 replication plants, making it a total of 90 plants per stand type. We used natural seedling as understory and combined with forestry plants. Number of leaves, plant height, plant number, plant length, tendrils diameter and growth percentage of ketak, and RLI were measured or calculated in each stand type. Variance analysis was used to determine the effect of stand type. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the relationship between stand types or RLI and number of leaves, plant height, plant number, plant length, and tendrils diameter. This study showed that (1). The growth percentage of ketak in natural stand, coffee stand, gliricidia stand, and mahogany stand respectively 62.22%, 97.77%, 75.56%, and 74.44% (2). The stand type with significant differences were found in the total number of leaves (F = 17.441; p = 0.000); plant height (F = 24.065; p = 0.000) and tendril diameter (F = 7.747; p = 0.000), but not in the total number and lengthof tendrils. (3). There were significant differences in stand type and RLI on total number of leaf, plant height, and tendril diameter of ketak plants with value of total number of leaf (F= 15,92, p = 0,00, and R square = 0,08); value of plant height (F = 34,63, p = 0,00, dan R square = 0,0005); and value of tendril diameter (F = 5,62, p = 0,00, dan R square = 0,0034). While in the total number of tendrils and tendrils length of ketak plants were not significant. The conclusion were (1) The highest growth percentage of ketak in Coffee stand is 97.77%. (2) Coffee stand had the highest influence on the total number of leaves, plant height and tendrils diameter. 3. The stand type and RLI only had a relationship with total number of leaf, plant height, and tendril diameter of ketak plants but not with total number of tendrils and tendrils length.