THE FORAGE PRODUCTION OF Brachiaria mutica UNDER COCONUT TREE CANOPY

Laurentius J.M. Rumokoy, Wisje L. Toar

Abstract
    Forage availability remains a major limiting factor in developing commercial farms in Indonesia. The land under coconut trees as found in North Sulawesi Indonesia, is potential to be a cultivation area of Brachiaria forage as a good fodder crops for ruminants and pseudoruminants. Brachiaria mutica is one of the very well-adapted forage under coconut trees in wet tropical climate zones. However, the constraints factors is the lack of scientific information regarding the effects of solar radiation intensity levels in forage crops under coconut trees on the quality of forage production needs for ruminants and pseudoruminansia ruminant feed.
    Researchs who have implemented intended to address this challenge is of assessing the effects of restrictions on the transmission of solar radiation in the range shade of coconut trees of various age levels, combined with the effects of level of nitrogen fertilizer on the quality aspects of the production of organic matter of Brachiaria mutica, include the fresh and dry matter production and crude protein.

Key words: Brachiaria mutica; animal feed; canopy of coconut trees