Growth and productivity response of Pakchong grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Thailand) to palm compost

Rani Rani; Neli Neli; Rita Zurina Muchlis; Wismalinda Rita; Edwar Suharnas

doi:10.25047/jipt.v9i2.6855

Authors

Rani Oktavianti Rahma Putri Universitas Muhammadiyah Bengkulu
Neli Definiati Universitas Muhammadiyah Bengkulu
Rita Zurina Muchlis Universitas Muhammadiyah Bengkulu
Wismalinda Rita Universitas Muhammadiyah Bengkulu
Edwar Suharnas Universitas Muhammadiyah Bengkulu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25047/jipt.v9i2.6855

Keywords:

Animal feed, Oil palm frond compost, Pakchong grass, Productivity

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effect of palm frond compost fertilizer on the productivity of Pakchong grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Thailand) as livestock feed. The study was conducted at the UPTD-PPT IB Livestock and Animal Health Service of Bengkulu Province from July 2024 to April 2025 using a randomized block design (RBD) with four compost dose treatments (T0, T10, T20, and T30 tons/ha) and three replicates. The parameters observed included plant height, leaf width, stem circumference, and number of tillers. The results showed that compost application did not have a significant effect on the first harvest, but a significant increase was observed in the second harvest. The 30 tons/ha treatment produced the best growth, with plant height reaching 620.7 cm, stem circumference 57.42 mm, leaf width 10.77 cm, and an average of five tillers per clump. This indicates that oil palm frond compost has the potential to be an effective organic fertilizer in the long term, after the decomposition process has run optimally. Thus, the utilization of oil palm frond waste not only increases forage productivity but also supports sustainable agriculture through environmentally friendly waste management.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Afandi, R., Syukri, & Iswahyudi. (2024). The effect of 16-16-16 NPK pearl fertilizer and chicken cage fertilizer dosage on the growth and production of mini elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott). Agrotechnology Journal, 12(2), 14–20. https://doi.org/10.32734/ja.v12i2.15822

Ariyanti, M., Dewi, I. R., & Natali, G. (2019). Utilization of organic fertilizer made out of oil palm midrib in oil palm nursery. International journal on advanced science, engineering and information technology, 9(4), 1324-1329. https://doi.org/10.18517/ijaseit.9.4.8103 Bengkulu, B. P. S. P. (2024). Bengkulu province in figures 2024. Bengkulu: BPS Bengkulu Province. ISBN/ISSN: 0215-2002.

de Avila, G. M., Gabardo, G., Clock, D. C., & de Lima Junior, O. S. (2021). Use of efficient microorganisms in agriculture. Research, Society and Development, 10(8), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i8.17515

Definiati, N., Sahputra, A., & Setyowati, N. (2023). Weed availability as a ruminant forage source on coffee farmers’ land in kandang village, Indonesia. International journal of life science and agriculture research, 02(07), 166-173. https://doi.org/10.55677/ijlsar/v02i07y2023-03

Farouk, A. S., Abdelghany, A. M., Shehab, A. A., Alwakel, S. E., Makled, K. M., Naif, E., Ren, H., & Lamlom, S. F. (2024). Optimizing wheat productivity through integrated management of irrigation, nutrition, and organic amendments. BMC Plant Biology, 24(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05213-2

Ferdiansyah, S., & Meriksa Sembiring. (2025). Response of organic fertilizer from several animal manures to the growth and production of Pakchong grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Thailand) as animal feed. Journal of innovation research and knowledge, 5(2), 1405-1416. https://doi.org/10.53625/jirk.v5i2.10610

Gea, I., Saragih, E. W., Lekitoo, M. N., & Djunaedi, M. (2025). The effect of fertilizer type on elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) productivity: A comparative study between goat manure compost, urea, and NPK on inceptisol soil. Agrisaintifika: Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 9(2), 430-438. https://doi.org/10.32585/ags.v9i2.6691

Harahap, F. S., Walida, H., Rahmaniah, R., Rauf, A., Hasibuan, R., & Nasution, A. P. (2020). The effect of empty oil palm fruit bunch and rice husk charcoal application on several chemical properties of soil in tomatoes. Agrotechnology Research Journal, 4(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.20961/agrotechresj.v4i1.41121

Hidayat, M. S., Hasibuan, A., Harahap, B., & Nasution, S. P. (2022). Utilization of empty oil palm fruit bunches as fertilizer material at pt karya hevea Indonesia. Factory journal of industry, Management and Industrial Systems Engineering, 1(2), 52–58. https://doi.org/10.56211/factory.v1i2.172

Junaidi, J., & Sembiring, M. (2025). Effect of compost dosage on the growth and yield of odot grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott). Agrivet: Journal of Agricultural and Animal Sciences, 13(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.31949/agrivet.v13i1.13784

Kolway, Y., Joris, L., & Eoh, M. (2023). Application of two types of manure on the initial growth of king grass (penisetum purpuphoides). Journal of Biology Education and Application, 10(1), 131-140. https://doi.org/10.30598/biopendixvol10issue1page131-140

Liman., Wijaya, A. K., Erwanto., Muhtarudin., Septianingsih, C., Asidiq, T., Nur, T., & Adhianto, K. (2022). Productivity and quality of pakchong-1 hybrid grass (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum americanum) at different harvesting ages and fertilizer levels. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 25(5), 426–432. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2022.426.432

Ma, Y., Zhang, Y., Jin, X., Li, X., Wang, H., & Qi, C. (2023). A visual method of hydroponic lettuces height and leaves expansion size measurement for intelligent harvesting. Agronomy, 13(8), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13081996

Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia. (2022). Statistics on national leading plantations 2020-2022. Directorate General of Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia. Retrieved from https://ditjenbun.pertanian.go.id/template/uploads/2022/08/STATISTIK_UNGGULAN-2020-2022.pdf

Muwakhid, B., & Ali, U. (2021). The effect of using “organic” leaf fertilizer on the productivity and quality of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum CV. Hawai) as forage. Livestock and Animal Research, 19(1), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.20961/lar. v19i1.41092

Ningsih, W. U., Syafria, H., & Akmal, A. (2022). Effectiveness of palm frond compost fertilizer on crude protein, crude fiber, and ash content of Kumpai grass (Hymenachne amplexicaulis). Indonesian Journal of Animal Science, 24(2), 137–142. https://doi.org/10.25077/jpi.24.2.137-142.2022

Paturkar, P., Ghosh, S., Bandyopadhyay, S., & Chaudhuri, S. (2022). Ground-truth based evaluation of plant phenotyping traits using manual measurements. Plant Methods, 18(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-022-00889-9

Prihantoro, I., Karti, P. D. M. H., & Siregar, F. M. (2024). Strategies to improve land fertility through optimization of organic fertilizer to enhance the productivity of Indigofera zollingeriana at field scale. Journal of Nutrition Science and Feed Technology, 22(3), 151–158. https://doi.org/10.29244/jintp.22.3.151-158

Ramon, E., Efendi, Z., Kusnadi, H., Yuliasari, S., Ishak, A., & Wulandari, W. A. (2022). Utilization of oil palm waste as animal feed for bali cattle in margomulyo village, central bengkulu. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1041(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1041/1/012057

Santosa, B., Amri, M., Metri, Y., & Sari, D. R. (2025). Effect of several types of compost on the growth and yield of rice. Agrotechnology Research Journal, 9(1), 37–41. https://doi.org/10.20961/agrotechresj.v9i1.102113

Septian, M. H., & Abdillah, M. (2022). Contemporary potential forage crops for ruminants (contemporary forage for ruminants). Journal of Livestock Science and Production, 6(2), 462–473. https://doi.org/10.31002/jalspro.v6i2.6756

Silalahi, A. M., Syah, R. F., & Hastuti, P. B. (2023). Optimization of composting time from palm fronds and empty fruit bunches of palm oil (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) with various bioactivators. Jurnal Agronomi Tanaman Tropika (JUATIKA), 5(1), 218–231. https://doi.org/10.36378/juatika.v5i1.2665

Siswoyo, P., Kurniawan, M. A., & Luthfi, M. F. (2023). Analysis of the productivity of purple fountain grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) as goat feed. Livestock Stock, 5(1), 44-50. https://doi.org/10.36355/sptr.v5i1.995

Suherman, D., & Herdiawan, I. (2021). Characteristics, productivity, and utilization of hybrid elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Thailand) as livestock feed. Maduranch: Journal of Animal Science, 6(1), 37-44. https://doi.org/10.53712/maduranch.v6i1.1071 Sulistijowati, R., Habie, D. A., Nento, W. R., & Peleh, E. I. (2024). Increase in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium of liquid fertilizer from fish canning waste and kepok banana peel (Musa paradisiaca L.). DEPIK: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Perairan, Pesisir dan Perikanan, 13(3), 447-454. https://doi.org/10.13170/depik.13.3.39583

Wang, Y., Liu, H., Zhang, X., Li, Z., & Chen, D. (2023). Automatic stem diameter measurement validated using manual caliper-based methods. Plant Methods, 19(1), 68, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-023-01045-7 Wangchuk, K., Rai, K., Nirola, H., Thukten, Dendup, C., & Mongar, D. (2015). Forage growth, yield and quality responses of napier hybrid grass cultivars to three cutting intervals in the himalayan foothills. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales, 3(3), 142–150. https://doi.org/10.17138/TGFT(3)142-150

Wati, D. S., Nursilawati, & Purwita, R. (2024). Literature review: Developing the potential of palm oil waste as a renewable energy source through hydrolysis to welcome to golden Indonesia 2045. CHEDS: Journal of Chemistry, Education, and Science, 8(2), 197–202. https://doi.org/10.30743/cheds.v8i2.10053

Zaghloul, E. A. M., Awad, E. S. A., Mohamed, I. R., El-Hameed, A. M. A., Feng, D., Desoky, E. S. M., Algopishi, U. B., Al Masoudi, L. M., Elrys, A. S., Mathew, B. T., AbuQamar, S. F., & El-Tarabily, K. A. (2024). Co-application of organic amendments and natural biostimulants on plants enhances wheat production and defense system under salt-alkali stress. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77651-9

Zhang, G., Liu, X., Wang, Y., Li, C., & Chen, H. (2023). Effect of reducing nitrogen fertilization and adding organic fertilizer on net photosynthetic rate, root nodules, and yield in peanut. Plants, 12(16), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12162902