Abstract
This observational field study compared understorey vegetation richness, composition, relative frequency, and relative dominance of edible species among cattle stocking-density categories in a cattle-oil palm integration system in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Nine grazing blocks (three per category) were sampled, representing the plantation’s existing management classification of low (-1
), moderate (25-30 TLU ha
-1
), and high (>30 TLU ha
-1
) stocking density. Within each block, five 50 × 50 cm quadrats were surveyed as nested subsamples, giving 15 quadrats per category. Across all nine blocks, 78 understorey plant species were recorded, of which 25 were edible. The highest total and edible species richness occurred in the moderate-density blocks (45 species; 12 edible), compared with the low- (22; 8 edible) and high-density blocks (27; 5 edible). Species frequency and relative dominance were also more evenly distributed in the moderate-density blocks, whereas the high-density blocks were dominated by a few grazing-tolerant species. These results suggest an association between stocking density and understory richness, with moderate density indicating a need for further investigation to balance grazing utilization and vegetation richness in integrated cattle-oil palm systems