Source: SEAMEO BIOTROP's Research Grant | 2021
Abstract:
Baluran National Park (BNP) savanna
is the largest savanna in Java, a biodiversity
conservation areas characterized by a domination of savannas housing
indigenous herbivores mainly banteng (Bos javanicus d’Alton), the flagship of BNP. Unfortunately the
population of banteng,
the very endogenous flagship has been decreasing and is classified as” endangered”. The
savannas are invaded by invasive alien plant species mainly a small tree species, Vachellia nilotica (L P.J. Hurter & Mabb.), originated from
India, altering those savannas into
shrubs dominated by V. nilotica the
invading tree species. The tree invasion shaded
out grasses, which was dominant in the park such as Dichantium caricosum (L.) A. Camus a type of grasses
preferred by the dwelling
herbivores. The solution
to these problems
are not enough only to kill to reduce the population of V.nilotica but also to control those broadleaved weeds and the more importance of all is growing selected
productive, nutritive, local grasses to ensure an adequate
supply banteng and other herbivores. This research activities aims measuring the competitive ability of grasses and
studying their competition against
other vegetation in the greenhouse following the approach of replacement
series. Selections of C4 productive competitive grasses for
establishing to develop productive pasture to support the livelihood of “banteng” and other fauna in
the park. The prospective grasses and
some weeds are collected from Savanna Bekol, BNP and grown in the green house and field site of SEAMEO BIOTROP,
Bogor. The measurement of photosynthesis were
carried out at different light intensity , 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600
µmol/m2/s using the Photosynthetic
Gas Exchange Analyser LICOR LI-6400 at IPB University. A greenhouse experiment was also organized to study the
competition ability between grasses of
Dichantium caricosum and Vernonia cymosa by replacement series
method. There are 9 grasses and 1 species
of broad leaves weeds collected at Baluran National
Park. Dichantium caricosum is
a grass recommended to be cultivated at Baluran National Park due to the high survival rate during
the dry season which has C4 photosynthetic type. V. cymosa has a high competition rate
than D. caricosum. V. cymosa has to be control to save the
growth of D. caricosum. Good pasture
of Baluran National
Park dominated by D. caricosum will
save the herbivores especially banteng and deers in grazing their feeds.
Keywords: Dichantium
caricosum, Vernonia cymosa, Baluran National Park, Invasive
Alien Plant Species
Download full report