Abstract
This study assessed biomass production and nutritional content of mixed grass-legume swards under field conditions in West Timor, Indonesia. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with four replications, involving three grass cultivars of
Pennisetum purpureum
(syn.
Cenchrus
purpureus)-Cipelang, Biograss, and Mott grown with a composite mixture of forage legumes
(Pueraria javanica, Centrosema pubescens,
and
Desmanthus virgatus).
Forages were harvested twice and separated into grass and legume components, and harvest time, using the three-way ANOVA with factors consisting of grass cultivars, botanical components, and harvest time. Results showed that the botanical composition significantly affected crude protein, crude fibre, water content, and biomass (PDesmanthus virgatus
in the composite. Legume composition declined in the second harvest, suggesting a stronger competitive regrowth of the grasses in the swards. These findings suggest the importance of cutting management to encourage a proper balance of grass-legume in the mixture.