EFFECT OF STEM CUTTING POSITIONS ON FORAGE GROWTH, YIELD, NUTRITIONAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CONTENT, AND PALATABILITY OF Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr - Nur Rochmah Kumalasari; Dilla Mareistia Fassah; Rima Shidqiyya Hidayati Martin; Putut Suryo Negoro; Susi Lestari; Iwan Prihantoro; Sunardi (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2024)
The current research aimed to evaluate the potential of Gynura procumbens (G. procumbens) as forage by evaluating its growth, yield, nutritional characteristics, and palatability which were cultivated from different-position stem cutting. The experiments were laid out under completely randomized design. The treatments were three positions of cutting stem: top (P1), middle (P2), and bottom (P3), with 50 replications. The observed parameters were the growth (morphological cutting stem, plant height, the number of leaves, and branches), yield (forage biomass), then the composite sample from all treatments was analyzed for nutrient composition, in vitro digestibility, phytochemical content, and palatability. Data were analyzed statistically using R i386 3.6.1 through analysis of variance (ANOVA). The Tukey contrast test was conducted to determine the level of significant differences among different treatments. The results showed that there were differences in cutting stem diameter and weight from different positions (P≤0.05). The cutting stem on top position increased the number of branches, plant height, and forage biomass (P≤0.01; P≤0.05), yet the number of leaves had no different effects. G. procumbens plant growth had different patterns on the number of leaves and branches and plant height. The crude protein, ash, and digestibility in leaves were higher than in the stalk. The degree of palatability was higher for cattle and goats. It was concluded from this study that the best position to induce G. procumbens plant growth was the top stem-cutting and its yield could be utilized as forage from leaves and stems based on the in vitro digestibility, forage biomass, nutritional characteristics, and palatability.
Keywords: journal article; Crop; Cutting Stem; Forage; Gynura procumbens; Stalk Position