PERFORMANCE OF GRASS-LEGUME PASTURES UNDER COCONUTS IN INDONESIA

A series of grazed and cut experiments were conducted in Bali and Nort h Sulawesi, Indonesia, between 1992 and 1994, to evaluate a range of s elected forages for both intensive and extensive ruminant production u nder mature, tall coconuts. Yield, botanical composition and persisten ce of grass-legume mixtures were assessed under regular grazing and cu tting regimes. In North Sulawesi, total dry matter yields of most gras s-legume treatments were relatively stable over the two-year period bu t yields of legume components within treatments declined sharply. In B ali, the grazed plots maintained stable yield and legume components ov er the experimental period but yield and legume components of cue plot s declined sharply. Paspalum malacophyllum and Setaria sphacelata cv. Splenda were productive and persistent grasses and formed weed-free sw ards but did not combine well with prostrate legumes. The erect growth habit of these grasses may limit their suitability in coconut product ion systems by impeding nut collection. The prostrate species Brachiar ia humidicola and Stenotaphrum secundatum were slightly less productiv e but equally weed-free and persistent, and established rapidly from c uttings. S. secundatum also formed stable associations with prostrate legumes under grazing. Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo and A. glabrata CPI 93483 were the most persistent of a range of prostrate legumes. The t ree legume, Calliandra calothyrsus, showed promise as a productive cut -and-carry species.