Abstract
Integrating cattle into oil palm
(Elaeis guineensis)
plantations can enhance land-use efficiency and farmer livelihoods, but understory forage availability varies with palm age due to canopy closure and microclimate changes. This study quantified forage biomass, botanical composition, and microclimate across five oil palm age classes (20 years) in Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia, and estimated the carrying capacity for cattle. A total of 220 quadrat samples (1 m
2
) were collected from 220 sampling points. Fresh biomass, dry matter, species composition, and density were recorded. Light intensity, air temperature, and relative humidity were measured concurrently. One-way ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD, and Pearson correlation were used for analysis. Fresh biomass declined significantly with age, from 1,245 ± 210 kg/ha in 20-year stands (p Calopogonium mucunoides
) to grass-dominated (
Paspalum conjugatum
). Light intensity decreased from 100% to <5% and was strongly correlated with biomass (r = 0.89, p < 0.01). Estimated carrying capacity ranged from 2.5 AU/ha in young plantations to 0.4 AU/ha in mature stands. Forage availability is highly age-dependent, necessitating age-specific management strategies. Integrated systems are most productive in young plantations; older stands require supplementation or rotational grazing. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing cattle-oil palm integration.