Productivity and Nutrient Content of the Second Regrowth Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) with Different Photoperiod and Dolomite

Abstract

The study was conducted to identify the effect of lighting duration and dolomite addition on the vegetative growth of alfalfa plants in second regrowth phase. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of the Laboratory of Forage and Pasture Science, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada. It used a completely randomized design with 3x3-factorial using two factors and three replications. The first factor was lighting duration (C) with 3 levels (C0 = 12 hours, C1 = 14 hours, and C2 = 16 hours). The second factor was dolomite addition (D) with 3 levels (D0 = 0 ton/ha, D1 = 6 ton /ha, and D2 = 12 ton/ha). The results showed a significant effect so Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) followed at 5% and 1% levels. The observed variables were plant height, the number of plant branches, the number of plant leaves, fresh forage production, and the chemical content of the plants in the form of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM). The addition of dolomite significantly affected the number of the plant branches, the number of plant leaves and the dry matter of the plants. A significant correlation was found between the two treatments and the number of leaves (C2D2) and a correlation was between the treatment and dry matter (C1D2).

The profile of tropical alfalfa in Indonesia: A review

“…Furthermore, the same study found that supplementation with fresh and hay alfalfa also had a significant impact on meat quality ( Suwignyo et al, 2020a , 2020b, 2020c, 2020d). The isoenergy and isoprotein rations do did not have any significant impact on the live and carcass weights of hybrid ducks.…”

“…Additionally, alfalfa contains large quantities of dietary fiber, which could help to lower cholesterol levels. The use of tropical alfalfa (Kacang Ratu BW) in ducks (35 days) from 3% up to a level of 10 % did not affect the production performance of ducks, but reduced FCR ( Suwignyo et al, 2020a , Suwignyo et al, 2020b , Suwignyo et al, 2020c , Suwignyo et al, 2020d , Suwignyo et al, 2021c , Suwignyo et al, 2021d ) reduced cholesterol from 66.5 to 34.8 mg/100 g ( Samur et al, 2020 ) from 177.7 to 116.2 mg/100g (in the liver), 162.9 to 134 mg/100 (in the blood) and reduced LDL from 83.70 to 68.0 mg/dL but increased HDL from 54.6 to 71.96 mg/dL ( Suwignyo et al, 2022 ). The use of 2 % tropical alfalfa in laying hens (hyline 50 weeks old) produced eggs with higher levels of Fe, Zn, beta carotene, vitamin A and antioxidants than controls, respectively 5.6 vs 4.9 mg/100 g, 3.4 vs 1 mg/100 g, 1818.1 vs 1512.7 µg/100 g, 4934.9 vs 4382.9 µg/100 g, 4.9 vs 15.8 %, making it good for nutritional intervention for stunting eradication programs, that are still high in several developing countries, including Indonesia ( Suwignyo and Indartono, 2022 ).…”

“…Research on alfalfa has been conducted for agriculture, animal husbandry, healthcare, and food industries. In the fields of agriculture and animal husbandry, research has been conducted using various developmental models at the laboratory scale ( Suwignyo et al, 2017 , Suwignyo et al, 2020a , Suwignyo et al, 2020b , Suwignyo et al, 2020c , Suwignyo et al, 2020d , Suwignyo et al, 2021a , Suwignyo et al, 2021b , Suwignyo et al, 2021c , Suwignyo et al, 2022 , Suwignyo and Sasongko, 2019 ). In animal husbandry, alfalfa is used as highly nutritious forage for both ruminant and non-ruminant animals to increase livestock production and improve the nutrient content of the meat, eggs, and milk produced.…”

“…The research on tropical alfalfa by Bambang Suwignyo has progressed significantly since 2010 (e.g., Suwignyo et al, 2020a , Suwignyo et al, 2020b , Suwignyo et al, 2020c , Suwignyo et al, 2020d , Suwignyo et al, 2021a , Suwignyo et al, 2021b , Suwignyo et al, 2021c , Suwignyo et al, 2021d , Suwignyo et al, 2022 , Suwignyo and Sasongko, 2019 , Suwignyo et al, 2017 ). Some alfalfa varieties/species have been used as study materials for cross-breeding studies using specific treatments such asthe use of dolomit fertilizer, and by varying the duration and wavelength of lightduring cultivation.…”

“…A study by Suwignyo et al (2017) reported the production of fertile alfalfa seeds, which confirmed that the plant had the potential to be cultivated in tropical areas. These plants have shown vegetative development with a high nutrient profile when compared to those from subtropical areas ( Suwignyo et al, 2020a , Suwignyo et al, 2020b , Suwignyo et al, 2020c , Suwignyo et al, 2020d ); this presents new hope for alfalfa cultivation in Indonesia and a potential categorization of the stock as a new strain/variety, namely tropical alfalfa ( Suwignyo et al, 2021a , Suwignyo et al, 2021b ). Tropical alfalfa already recognized by Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) as new variety with local name Kacang Ratu BW which Bambang Suwignyo as an inventor who developed alfalfa became tropical alfalfa with registered number 929/PVHP/2021 released by Center for Plant Variety Protection and Agricultural Licensing (PPVT) of the Ministry of Agriculture RI.…”