PERFORMANCE OF TROPICAL FORAGES UNDER THE CLOSED CANOPY OF THE OIL PALM. II. LEGUMES

CHEN CHIN PENG AND OTHMAN OMAR

SUMMARY

Under the closed canopy of the oil palm with mean light transmissions of 15.8% to 15.7% daylight , sight tropical legumes were evaluated for their general agronomic performance, plant chemical composition and persistence with three cutting frequencies of 4.8 and 12 months. All legumes declined in yield when cutting frequency was relaxed from 4 to 12 months except D. ovalifolium which increased by almost double in DM vield then cut at 8-month as compared to 4-month cutting. D. ovalifolium which was characterized  by slow plant establishment and low plant mineral status had the highest root weight, nodules per plant and bigger leaf area to produce the highest DM yiel (1970 kg/ha/year) and nitrogen content (34 kg/ha/year). Although showing constantly higher plant mineral contents and fast plant establishment. C. caeruleun and C. pubescens, achieved o ly 29% and 20% DM, respectively , compared to D. ovalifolium. Both species were able to establish good root weight to sustain moderate growth and to achieve plant survival o f 36.1% and 38.3%, respectively. Although D. heterophyllum and Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Endeavour and Cook recorded larger leaf sizes ranging from 3.3.2.6 and 2.8 times more than the normal, they produced negligible yields. C. mucunoides and M. otropurpureum cv . Siratro deteriorated immediately after sward establishment under critical light environment.

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