Indigofera zollingeriana: A Promising Forage and Shrubby Legum Crop for Indonesia

Abstract

Indigofera zollingeriana is a shrubby legume that has been studied since 2009 at Department of Animal Science and Technology, Bogor Agricultural University. Observation of agronomical parameters was conducted to investigate forage regrowth patern, herbage production and cutting management. Some soil ecological parameters were also observed to recognize rhizo effect on chemical and biological soil properties. Evaluation of nutrinional parameters were conducted as well to investigate utilization of nutritional value of the legume. Agronomical study revealed I. zollingeriana is a branchy regrowing plant that showed appropriate harvesting time at 60 days, easy to grow with tea growing structure model, and produced about 6-10 ton DM ha-1 harvest-1. Cultivation of I. zollingeriana significantly increased 20% of soil organic carbon, P-solubilizing bacteria colony, stablized soil-P and -N consentration and soil pH. Meanwhile investigation of nutritional aspects revealed highly nutritional value indicated by high protein content and digestibility; good utilizable fiber, high dry matter digestibility, low tannin and saponin content. According to these results, I. zollingeriana is able to be developed as one of promising shrubby legume to improve livestock production in Indonesia due to nutritional, agronomical and ecological reasons.