Prospective Productivity of Grazing Lands Used by Groups of Beef Cattle Farmers in Napu Valley in the District of Poso

INDRA W. NGASANG. Prospective Productivity of Grazing Lands Used by Groups of Beef Cattle Farmers in Napu Valley in the District of Poso (Supervised by Andi Lagaligo Amar, and Marsetyo).

This study was intended to explore prospective productivity and development opportunity of Grazing Lands Used by Groups of Beef Cattle Farmers in Napu Valley in the District of Poso. Data were collected from the study are and they included botanical composition, forage production, carrying capacity and nutritional quality of the forage. The data was obtained by destructive sampling technique where the vegetation were cut, and then analyzed in the laboratory.  

Results indicated that Themeda triandra, Sporobolus sp., Paspalum scrobiculatum L. and Hyparrhenia sp. grasses were found to be the dominant vegetation in either Alitupu (98.47%), Wuasa (98.96) or Winowanga (99.01%) while the rest of vegetation across the three grazing fields was found to be weed of Melastoma malabatrichum. There was no legume found in the study area. Forage production (kg dry matter/ha) was 2,129.74 for Alitupu, 2,487.04 for Wuasa, and 2,479.23 for Winowanga. Carrying capacity (TLU/ha/year) at a PUF of 20% was calculated to be 0.57 for Alitupu and 0.66 for both Wuasa and Winowanga. Crude protein content of vegetation was 4.81%, 5.39%, and 4.79% for Alitupu, Wuasa, and Winowanga while crude fibre content at the corresponding order 32.43%, 34.90% and 32.28%.

Keyword: grazing lands, botanical composition, forage production, carrying capacity, nutrient quality