Mineral Balance of Brachiaria humidicola Pasture which is Introduced with Creeping Legumes Creeping at UP3J

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study mineral balance of Brachiaria humidicola pasture which was introduced with creeping legumes. Plants materials used consisted of B humidicola, three kinds of legumes, i.e. Pueraria javanica, Centrosema pubescens and Calopogonium mucunoides, NPK fertilizer, manure and Soil Potential Microorganisms were obtained from Agrostology Laboratory, Faculty of Animal Science, Bogor Agricultural University. The experiment used block randomized design with eight treatments and four replications. AThe treatments were P1: Control (Pasture concisted of Brachiaria humidicola), P2: B. humidicola introduced with Pueraria javanica, Centrosema pubescens and Calopogonium mucunoides with NPK fertilizer of NPK), P3: B. humidicola with P.javanica, P4: B. humidicola with C. Pubescens, P5: B. humidicola with C. mucunoides, P6: B. humidicola with P. javanica and C. Pubescens, P7: B. humidicola with P. javanica and C. mucunoides, P8: B. humidicola with P. javanica, C. pubescens and C. Mucunoides. P3 until P8 used NPK half doses, manure and soil potential microorganisms. Parameters observed were level and intake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg from forage, blood serum, and sheep feces, dry matter consumption. The data were analyzed with analysis of variance and the differences between treatments were analyzed with Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Consumption of N in each treatment was not sufficient for the needs of N from a sheep everyday, except P3, P4 and P7. Consumption of P in all treatments was not sufficient. Consumption of K and Mg for all treatments were sufficient. Consumption of Ca in each treatment was not sufficient, except P4. The mineral imbalance of P and Ca occurred in all treatments except P2, N for P1, and P6, Mg for P5 and P8. The mineral balance occured on K. To solve the problem of mineral imbalance can be done with the addition of organic or inorganic fertilizers in pasture.