Morphology characteristic and biomass production of jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) at different growth stages in Blora, Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract

In Indonesia, various types of indigenous bean plants are distributed across different regions. However, crops like the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) are still considered neglected and underutilized. This study evaluated the morphological characteristics and biomass production of jack bean at different growth stages cultivated in alluvial type of soil at teak tree forest area in Blora, Central Java, Indonesia. A field experiment was conducted using a completely randomized block design with four replications. Sixteen jack bean seeds were sown in 1 × 1 m2 plots. Morphological parameters (plant height, plant length, stem diameter, node length, number of nodes, rachis length, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width, number of flowers, and number of pods) were measured at three distinct growth stages: the vegetative, flowering, and pod development stages prior to harvesting. Forage yield was assessed after harvesting at each growth stage. The highest fresh forage yield (43.23 tons/ha) was observed at the pod development stage, compared to the vegetative (19.39 tons/ha) and flowering (34.35 tons/ha) stages. Fresh leaf and stem production at the pod development stage also showed significantly higher values (22.51 tons/ha and 20.85 tons/ha, respectively). Based on its favorable morphological traits and substantial biomass yield, jack bean at the pod development stage demonstrates strong potential as a forage resource for ruminants, particularly in the context of Indonesia’s arid and remote regions.