This study determines generative growth characteristics of alfalfa in second regrowth with the addition of dolomite and extended photoperiod. This study used a completely randomized design tested via Least Significant Difference. Dolomite was added at 0, 6 and 12 ton/ha. Photoperiod was varied at 12, 14 and 16 hours. The results conclude that extended photoperiod promoted alfalfa growth. Lengthier exposure to lighting promoted faster flowering and greater proportions of pod emergence and pod ripening. The addition of dolomite levels did not affect generative growth, except in the percentage of pods per plants. The addition of 16-hour lighting duration improved the second regrowth stage of alfalfa as compared to 14 and 12-hour photoperiods. The result yielded 61.63% seed purity and 13.33% seed viability.

This study aimed to determine the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the cultivation of tropical weed Synedrella nodiflora as forage. The study was conducted from May to July 2018. The treatments of the research were control (C), organic fertilizer (D) and organic fertilizer + urea (DU), with 3 replications that were arranged on experimental design with a completely randomized design, in a unidirectional pattern and continued with least significant different (LSD). Organic fertilizer dosage in this study was 5 tons/ha, while urea fertilizer was 350 kg/ha, with plant spacing was 45x60 cm. The observed parameters were plant height, forage production and chemical composition (5 weeks after planting). Plant height of C, D and DU were 41.59, 47,42, and 50.59 cm respectively. Forage production of dry matter after 5 weeks planting at C, D and DU were 1.69, 1.70 and 2.91ton/ha, with in vitro digestibility values ranging from 51.68 to 57.70% (IVDMD) and 51.71 to 61.98% (OMD) respectively. The chemical composition of native S. Nodiflora were 12.32% of dry matter (DM), 62.45% TDN count for cattle and 67.42% TDN count for sheep. Based on DM, The organic matter was 84.46%, crude protein 20,11%, crude fiber 13.26%, extract ether 7.77%, and nitrogen free extract 37.08%. The combination of organic fertilizer and urea increased the height and fresh and dry matter production S. nodiflora.

Weed is one of the plants that grow around rubber plantations that have the potential to provide forage for ruminant feed. This study aimed to explore the environmental conditions and identify the botanical composition of weeds under the shade of rubber trees in immature plants (IP) at PTPN IX, Getas Farm, Semarang, Central Java. Exploratory research was conducted to identify the botanical composition of weeds in three IP groups, such as 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6 years old. The composition of the weeds’ botany was divided based on the plants’ morphology into grass, legume, forbs, and browse. The environmental conditions data were analyzed using the ANOVA method and followed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The botanical composition data were tabulated using a summed dominance ratio (SDR). The results showed the light intensity, wind speed, environment temperature, and weed botanical composition decreased as the rubber plants ages. The composition of rubber plantation weeds on IP 1-2 years old consisted of 32 species (5 kinds of grass, 4 legumes, 21 forbs, and 2 browse). The composition of weeds on IP 3-4 years old consisted of 15 species (8 kinds of grass, 2 legumes, and 5 forbs), while IP 5-6 years old consisted of 6 species (4 kinds of grass, 1 legume, and 1 forb). The dominant weeds of each IP were Calopogonium mucunoides, Cyrtococcum acrescens, and Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum, respectively. Based on the results of the study it was concluded that the area of IP 1-2 years old rubber plantation weeds has the highest botanical composition and potential as ruminant feed.  Keywords: Environmental conditions; Immature plants; Rubber plantation; Weed   Abstrak  Gulma merupakan salah satu tanaman yang tumbuh di sekitar tanaman perkebunan karet yang berpotensi sebagai penyedia hijauan pakan ternak ruminansia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi kondisi lingkunganpertumbuhan gulma dan mengidentifikasi komposisi botani di bawah naungan pohon karet pada tanaman belum menghasilkan (TBM), di PTPN IX, Kebun Getas. Semarang, Jawa Tengah. Penelitian dilakukan secara eksploratif terhadap kondisi lingkungan dan identifikasi komposisi botani gulma pada 3 kelompok TBM yaitu umur 1-2; 3-4; dan 5-6 tahun. Komposisi botani gulma dibagi berdasarkan morfologi tanaman yaitu rumput, legum, forb, dan browse. Data kondisi lingkungan kelompok TBM dianalisis menggunakan ANOVA dan diuji lanjut menggunakan Duncant’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Data dominasi komposisi botani ditabulasi menggunakan summed dominance ratio (SDR). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan intensitas cahaya, kecepatan angin, suhu lingkungan, dan komposisi botani gulma menurun seiring bertambahnya umur tanaman karet. Komposisi gulma perkebunan karet pada TBM 1-2 terdapat 32 spesies meliputi 5 rumput, 4 legum, 21 forb, dan 2 browse; TBM 3-4 terdapat 15 spesies meliputi 8 rumput, 2 legum, dan 5 forb, sedangkan TBM 5-6 terdapat 6 spesies meliputi 4 rumput, 1 legum, dan 1 forb. Gulma yang mendominasi masing-masing TBM yaitu Calopogonium mucunoides, Cyrtococcum acrescens dan Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian disimpulkan gulma perkebunan karet lahan TBM 1–2 memiliki komposisi botani dan potensi tertinggi sebagai pakan ternak ruminansia.  Kata kunci: Gulma; Kondisi lingkungan; Perkebunan Karet; TBM

The experiment was conducted to investigate the adaptive grasses Pennisetum purpureum and Panicum maximum growing under shading coconut (Cocosnucifera L.), nutmeg (Myristicafragrans) and clove (Eugenia aromaticum) plantation canopy. Two spesies of tropical grasses Pennisetum purpureum and Panicum maximum were cultivated for 40 days at Jambula, Ternate, Maluku Utara, Indonesia. The parameters of research were nutrient quality and in vitro digestible of each grass. Data were analyzed using factorial adn for the significant differences were futher testes by Least Significant Different (LSD).Shade from control, coconut, nutmeg and clove plantation canopy each of which is 0, 38, 78, and 83%. The result showed that Panicum maximum chemical composition and in vitro digestible was better than Pennisetum purpureum. It can be recommended that Panicum maximum is persistent spesies, and has a good productivity for a long periode of time under shading in plantation.