Silvopasture based on Sengon (SBS) in the southern of Merapi Volcano and the development opportunities

Abstract

Silvopasture is an important pillar for people in the southern part of Merapi Volcano. Silvopasture provides forage and also supports ecological recovery after the eruption. This research was aimed to determine the composition of stands, forage productivity and quality, and the opportunities of silvopasture development. Data were collected by a purposive method that divided the land into 4 categories based on the age of sengon stands: 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years with 4 samples were taken from each category. Measurement of stands were collected using 20m 20m plots. Inside the stands plot there were 5 plots of 1m 1m ordered diagonally to collect forage samples. The variables observed include the species and the number of stands and forage, forage's productivity (wet weight), also forage's quality (organic matter, crude protein, and crude fiber). Data analysis used the Importance Value Index (IVI), Diversity Index (H'), and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result showed that the land composed by timber stands (sengon, mahogany, mindi, mangium, and jabon), fruit stands (durian, guava, dersono guava, jengkol, melinjo, jackfruit, kokosan, and avocado), forage stands (gamal), and other stands (waru gunung). The observed forage were Panicum maximum, Cyperus rotundus, and Imperata cylindrica. Panicum maximum on SBS of 4 years old (shade intensity 92,93%) has the best productivity (0,077 ton/ha/year wet weight) and quality (10% crude protein, 20,6% crude fiber, and 83,4% organic matter). Silvopasture can be developed by intensifying the land space for stands and forage as well as increasing the land owner's knowledge about silvopasture.