Evaluation of potential and local forages nutrition as ruminant feed-in Payo Agro-Tourism Area, Solok City, West Sumatera, Indonesia

This study aims to evaluate local forage’s potential and nutritional content in the Payo agro-tourism area of Solok, West Sumatra, Indonesia, to be used as a ruminant feed. This study used a survey method by taking a sample of the forage that grows a lot in the area and then analyzed its nutritional content. The nutritional content analyzed were dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, calcium, and phosphorus minerals. At the same time, the TDN value and the extracted material without nitrogen were calculated based on the formula. The results showed that 12 types of forage have the potential as ruminant feed, namely Panicum maximum, Tithonia diversifolia, Gliricidia sepium, Digitaria sp, Centrocema pubescens, Calliandra calothyrsus, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Bidens pilosa, Ipomea triloba, Micania Scandens, Asystasia gangetica, and corn straw. This study shows that Calliandra calothyrsus has the highest crude protein content, and Corn straw contains the lowest crude protein. The highest and lowest TDN values were Gliricidia sepium and Panicum maximum, respectively. Through the linear programming program, these 12 plants can be formulated into 4 ration formulations with 58% TDN and 15-16% crude protein.

Urban trees to attract wild birds in a tropical urban residential complex in Sentul, West Java, Indonesia

In an urban residential complex, in addition to providing environmental services, trees also attract wild birds. The objective of this research was to identify trees planted in tropical urban residential areas that can attract wild birds. The research was conducted in Sentul City Residential Complex, Bogor, West Java, by observing wild birds that visit certain trees as part of their habitat components. Trees provide nectar, fruits, seeds, and insects as food for birds and nest materials. Trees also have important functions as birds’ cover and nesting sites. There were 103 tree species, all basically supporting the life of 51 bird species found in the study area. Examples of nectar producer trees were Spathodea campanulata, Callistemon citrinus, Erythrina crista-galli; fruit producers were Muntingia calabura, Syzygium polyanthum, Ficus benjamina; seeds producers were Leucaena leucocephala, Paraserianthes falcataria. Many trees also attracted insects for bird food, including Acacia mangium, Samanea saman. Conifers and small twigs and leaf petioles/rachis of many legumes, for example, Delonix regia, Calliandra calothyrsus) can be used as nest materials. Careful selection of trees could attract many wild birds to increase the environmental quality of the residential areas.

Effect of Iron Toxicity on the Growth of Calliandra calothyrsus and Leucaena leucocephala Seedlings

Iron (Fe) is a micro essential needed by plants in small amounts and can be toxic when available in large quantities. This study aimed to evaluate how Fe exposure affects the growth of C. callothyrsus and L. leucocephala seedlings. This study used a completely randomized design with factorial, where the first factor consisted of two levels of seedlings (C. calothyrsus and L. leucocephala), and the second factor consisted of Fe concentration which consisted of 8 levels (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, and 1.75 mM). The results showed that treatment of seedlings species and concentration of Fe was able to significantly affect the growth parameters (height, root length, root dry weight, shoots, and plant dry weight) of seedlings. The control treatment (without Fe) showed the highest growth response compared to those treated with Fe exposure and an increase in Fe concentration was able to reduce all growth parameters in both seedlings. The 0.5 mM Fe concentration reduced all growth parameters of C. calothyrsus drastically, while in L. leucocephala, the Fe 0.75 concentration was able to decrease all growth parameters drastically. The tolerance index of both seedlings decreased with increasing Fe concentration. The rate of photosynthesis did not show a significant difference between treatments, meanwhile, it had a significant effect on chlorophyll affect chlorophyll (a, b, and total chlorophyll) and carotenoid content. The highest Fe content in C. calothyrsus seedlings was at a concentration of 1.5 mM (4.40%), while in L. leucocephala seedlings, the highest Fe content was at 1.7 mM (2.87%).

Potential of Calliandra calothyrsus Leaf Extract to Maintain Estrogen Concentration and Uterine Thickness in Rats

Calliandra calothyrsus Meissn. leaf extract is potential as phytoestrogens. It influenced male mice reproduction, rat estrous cycle, and ovarian histology in previous study. This research aimed to prove the C. calothyrsus leaf extract potential as phytoestrogen source and the effect on endometrial thickness where the embryo implantation take place in early pregnancy. This study used a Completely Randomized Design used 54 days old female rats (Rattus norvegicus). Rats were divided into K as control group (treated with 0.5% Na-CMC as placebo) and P1, P2, and P3 as three groups with C. calothyrsus leaf extract administration with doses of 17.5; 35; and 70 mg/ kg bw respectively. Treatments were given 1 ml/rat/day orally for 20 days. At day 21st, animals were euthanized to collect blood samples for estrogen hormone analysis. After the dissection, all uterus were collected and weighed. Histological preparation was done with paraffin method and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. The effective dose was 70 mg/ kg bw that did not decrease the weight of the uterus and the body. This dose even maintained the normal diameter and thickness of uterine walls (endometrium, myometrium, and perimetrium layers) like control rats. The extract in this study could increase estrogen concentration in female rats. This research novelty is that C. calothyrsus leaf extract (70 mg/ kg bw) can be used as an alternative herbal suplement to maintain uterine wall thickness and estrogen concentration in productive women. With further clinical research, this extract is a good candidate as potential estrogen source to overcome women infertility or pregnancy difficulties due to problem of endometrial thickness and lack of endogenous estrogen.

Rumen disappearance of tannins from tropical tannin-rich plants: interplay between degradability, methane production and adherent rumen microbiota

Condensed tannins in plants are found free and attached to protein and fibre but it is not known whether these fractions influence degradation and rumen function. The aim of the study was to explore the rumen degradation of tropical tannins-rich plants and elucidate their relationship with the disappearance of condensed tannins fractions. The effects on fermentation parameters and microbial communities colonising plant particles in the rumen was also assessed. We used in situ and in vitro approaches to study four leguminous: leaves from Calliandra calothyrsus, Gliricidia sepium, and Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia nilotica pods and the leaves of two agricultural by-products: Manihot esculenta and Musa spp. Plants were analysed to quantify levels of hydrolysable tannins, free condensed tannins, protein-bound condensed tannins and fibre-bound condensed tannins. Rumen dry matter, nitrogen and fibre (NDF) degradability, rumen disappearance of tannin fractions and microbial colonisation of plants was assessed in situ. The methane-mitigation potential of tannin-rich plants compared to a tropical forage without tannins was assessed in vitro. All plants contained more than 100 g/kg of condensed tannins with a large proportion (32 to 61%) bound to proteins. Calliandra calothyrsus had the highest concentration of condensed tannins at 361 g/kg, whereas Acacia nilotica was particularly rich in hydrolysable tannins (350 g/kg). Hydrolysable and free condensed tannins from all plants completely disappeared after 24 h incubation in the rumen. Disappearance of protein-bound condensed tannins was more variable with Gliricidia sepium showing the highest proportion (93%), Manihot esculenta and Musa spp. showed intermediate values of disappearance, and no disappearance was observed from Calliandra calothyrsus leaves. In contrast, fibre-bound condensed tannins disappearance averaged ~82% and did not vary between plants. Disappearance of bound fractions of condensed tannins was not associated with degradability of plant fractions. Dry matter and nitrogen degradation were similar for all plants except Calliandra calothyrsus and Musa spp. that showed lower values. Calliandra and Acacia nilotica had also a lower NDF degradation. Methane production was also lower for these plants and for Leucaena leucocephala although for the latter total volatile fatty acids production was not affected and was similar to control. The presence of tannins interfered with the microbial colonisation of plants. Each plant had distinct bacterial and archaeal communities after 3 and 12 h of incubation in the rumen and distinct protozoal communities at 3 h. Adherent communities in tannin-rich plants had a lower relative abundance of fibrolytic microbes, notably Fibrobacter spp. Whereas, archaea diversity was reduced in high tannin-containing Calliandra calothyrsus and Acacia nilotica at 12 h of incubation. Here we show that the total amount of hydrolysable and condensed tannins contained in a plant govern the interaction with rumen microbes affecting degradability and fermentation. The effect of protein- and fibre-bound condensed tannins on degradability is less important.

EFFEKTIFITAS KONSENTRASI ZAT PENGANTUR TUMBUH TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN STEK BATANG KALIANDRA (Calliandra calothyrsus)

Potensi sumber energi kita yang ada di negara Indonesia semakin hari semakin menipis yang disebabkan diambil secara terus menerus. Sumber energi yang berasal dari fosil ini jika kita ambil secara terus-menerus akan habis dan tidak bisa terbaharukan. Oleh karena itu perlu adanya altarnatif sumber energi yang bisa diperbaharui, salah satunya energi yang bisa diperbaharui untuk menggantikan energi fosil, adalah biomasa kayu. Salah satu Kayu yang bisa di jadikan sumber energi yang bisa diperbaharui adalah kayu Kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus). Kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus) merupakan jenis pohon teduhan yang dapat tumbuh di hutan gugur dan hijau sepanjang tahun. Permasalahan yang dihadapi dalam pembiakan tanaman Kaliandra secara generatif adalah daya kecambah benih yang rendah yang diebabkan oleh benih Kaliandra memiliki sifat dormasi benih yang keras, dan kulit memiliki lapisan Lilin. Untuk mengatasi permasalahan dalam memenuhi kebutuan kayu Kaliandra dalam sumberdaya energi, maka diperlukan pembiakan tanaman secara vegetatif, salah satunya dengan stek batang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui tingkat efektifitas keberhasilan pertumbuhan stek batang Kaliandra dengan menggunakan berbagai konsentrasi zat pengatur tumbuh Rootone F. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kuantitatif dengan melakukan berbagai eksperimen perlakuan terhadap stek batang Kaliandra yaitu tidak diberi perlakuan S0K Tanpa perlakuan (0 ppm) S1K Perlakuan mengunakan hormon Rootone-f dengan konsentrasi (100 ppm), S2K Perlakuan mengunakan hormon Rootone-f dengan konsentrasi (200 ppm). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan jumlah tunas dan jumlah daun yang sama disetiap perlakuan yaitu 1 tunas, Panjang tunas pada perlakuan hormon Rootone F dengan konsentrasi 100 (ppm), menghasilkan panjang tunas terbesar 0,71 cm, persentasi hidup pada perlakuan hormon Rootone F dengan konsentrasi 100 (ppm) terbesar 6,67 %, dan Panjang akar stek Kaliandra pada perlakuan hormon Rootone F dengan konsentrasi 100 (ppm) menghasilkan terbesar 0,25 cm.

Zonation Drives The Abundance of Understory Exotic Plant Species in Ir. Djuanda Forest Park, West Java

The understory is an important component in the tropical forests, particularly to contribute to ecosystem services function and playing on succession. However, the study on their existence related to the zonation effect in an ex-situ conservation is still lacking. This study aimed to compare the structure and composition of the understory in the two blocks of Ir. Djuanda Forest Park, Bandung. Data collection was carried out through vegetation analysis using plot methods (sampling plots). A total of 40 sampling plots of 5m x 5m were made in two observation blocks. The Importance Value Index (IVI) for each species was calculated based on their relative density and relative frequency. Seventy-three species of understory from 38 families were found in the observation plots, dominated by Araceae and Moraceae families. The composition of the protected block has higher species richness than the utilization block due to the differences in microclimates conditions. Calliandra calothyrsus, known as an invasive species, has the highest IVI indicating high adaptability to open habitats in the utilization block, while two native species, Plectranthus sp. and Chlorathus elatior, dominate in the protection block. Based on these findings, we showed that forest zonation drives exotic and native species abundance in the ex situ conservation area.Abstrak: Tumbuhan bawah merupakan salah satu komponen penting dalam vegetasi hutan tropis, terutama dalam pelayanan ekosistem dan berperan dalam proses suksesi. Namun, penelitian mengenai keberadaannya dikaitkan dengan pengaruh zonasi di kawasan konservasi secara ex situ masih jarang. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk membandingkan struktur dan komposisi tumbuhan bawah pada dua blok yang berbeda di kawasan Taman Hutan Raya Ir. Djuanda, Bandung. Pengambilan sampel menggunakan analisis vegetasi dengan metode plot (petak contoh). Sebanyak 40 plot kecil berukuran 5mx5m di kedua blok pengamatan. Indeks nilai penting (INP) setiap jenis dihitung berdasarkan kerapatan relatif dan frekuensi relatifnya. Sebanyak 73 jenis dalam 38 suku tumbuhan didata di dalam pengamatan, yang didominasi dari suku Araceae dan Moraceae. Berdasarkan jumlah jenis tumbuhan penyusunnya, blok perlindungan memiliki jenis yang lebih banyak dibandingkan dengan blok pemanfaatan berkaitan dengan berkaitan dengan perbedaan kondisi iklim mikro di kedua blok tersebut. Jenis Calliandra calothyrsus, dikenal sebagai tumbuhan invasif, memiliki nilai INP tertinggi menunjukkan kemampuan adaptasi yang tinggi pada habitat terbuka di blok pemanfaatan, sedangkan tumbuhan asli pegunungan jawa, Plectranthus sp. dan Chloranthus elatior mendominasi pada blok perlindungan. Berdasarkan hasil temuan ini, kita menyarankan bahwa zonasi mempengaruhi kelimpahan tumbuhan eksotik dan asli di kawasan konservasi tumbuhan secara eksitu.

Integrated Soil Fertility Management Options for Maize Production and Sustainability in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Background: Continuous cultivation without fertilizer application and soil erosion are responsible for plant nutrient depletion and yield decline of major food crops in Sub-Saharan Africa.Methods: Nutrient status of Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia angustissima and Cassia spectabilis were characterized. Field experiments were conducted over two years in the Western Highlands of Cameroon to evaluate the effects of the application of leaf biomass of agroforestry tree species and mineral fertilizers on maize yield performance. The residual effects on soil physicochemical properties were also investigated for umbric Cambisols of Babungo and ustic Oxisols of Bansoa. Ten treatments encompassing; sole leaf biomass of Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia angustissima and Cassia spectabilis, leaf biomasses combined with NPK fertilizer, sole NPK fertilizer and absolute control were laid in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and the Duncan Test (p < 0.05) used for mean separation.Results: All the species characterized had nitrogen, polyphenol and lignin contents greater than 2.5 %, 5 % and 15 % respectively. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among treatments on maize growth, productivity parameters and soil chemical properties for both soil types. The highest maize grain yields were recorded in plots amended with 1 t/ha of biomass of Calliandra calothyrsus or Leucaena leucocephala as well as1.5 t/ha of biomass of Acacia angustissima and Cassia spectabilis plus mineral fertilizer (50 N+ 37.5 P2O5 + 45 K2O) on both soils compared to other treatments.on umbric Cambisols and ustic Oxisols respectively. The residual effects of treatments on soil chemical properties showed severe nutrient depletion in control plots and those amended with sole inorganic fertilizer.Conclusions: Combined application of agroforestry tree biomass and inorganic fertilizers remains an appropriate technology to enhance maize yield and sustain production of resource-limited farmers of acid tropical soils..

POTENSI KALIANDRA (Calliandra calothyrsus) DAN GAMAL (Gliricidia sp.) DI DAERAH ISTIMEWA YOGYAKARTA UNTUK PENGEMBANGAN PELET KAYU

Negara-negara di dunia, khususnya Eropa, Jepang, Korea Selatan dan China, mulai beralih ke penggunaan energi terbarukan yaitu pelet kayu. Indonesia dengan iklim tropis, keanekaragaman jenis tanaman dan ketersediaan lahan untuk pengembangan sumber energi ini, berpeluang menjadi salah satu produsen utama pelet kayu, baik untuk memenuhi permintaan nasional atau internasional. Daerah Istimewa (DI) Yogyakarta merupakan salah satu provinsi di Indonesia yang memiliki hutan rakyat dan berpeluang untuk dikembangkan sebagai produsen pelet kayu. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperoleh informasi awal tentang jenis tanaman kayu potensial di DI Yogyakarta. Pengambilan data dilakukan dengan studi pustaka dan survey kepada Kelompok Tani Hutan (KTH) di Kabupaten Bantul (22 KTH), Gunungkidul (15 KTH), Kulonprogo (15 KTH) dan Sleman (19 KTH). Cabang dan ranting kering merupakan sumber bahan bakar kayu utama bagi KTH di DI Yogyakarta, tanpa melihat jenis tanamannya. Jenis kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus) dan gamal (Gliricidia sp.) sebagai jenis potensial untuk pelet kayu ditanam sebagai sumber hijauan makanan ternak, sumber nektar untuk peternakan lebah madu dan untuk konservasi tanah. Kedua jenis ini ditanam sebagai tanaman tepi di pinggir lahan, diantara tanaman pertanian dan atau tanaman berkayu, bukan sebagai tanaman utama. Jumlah yang ditanam sangat variatif berkisar antara 0 - 2000 pohon kaliandra/ha dan 0 - 3000 pohon gamal/ha. Berdasarkan hasil tersebut diketahui bahwa jenis potensial untuk produksi pelet kayu, kaliandra dan gamal sudah ditanam di 4 kabupaten tersebut. Namun penanaman kedua jenis tersebut perlu dikembangkan agar dapat mendukung produksi pelet kayu.