PENGARUH NAUNGAN TERHADAP PRODUKSI BIOMASSA DAN KADAR N BERBAGAI Legume Cover Crop (LCC) MERAMBAT

Legume cover crops (LCCs) are widely used in large-scale plantations to improve soil fertility, reduce erosion, and enhance sustainability. However, their growth and productivity in oil palm plantations are often constrained by shading as palm canopies expand with age, reducing the light available to understory crops. While certain LCC species tolerate low light conditions, many are shade-intolerant. This study evaluated the effects of shading on biomass production and leaf nitrogen concentration of different LCC species, and identified those capable of maintaining high productivity under shaded environments. The experiment employed a split-plot design in a randomized block framework. Shade levels (0, 55, 65, and 75%) were assigned to main plots, while LCC species (Mucuna bracteata, Pueraria javanica, Calopogonium mucunoides, Mucuna pruriens, and Centrosema pubescens) were assigned to subplots, with four replications, resulting in 80 experimental units. Shading significantly reduced plant height, leaf number, leaf area, leaf nitrogen concentration, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthetic rate, and biomass production. Among the five species, Mucuna pruriens consistently exhibited the highest biomass (21.10%) and leaf nitrogen concentration (21.42%) under shaded conditions, outperforming Pueraria javanica, Centrosema pubescens, Mucuna bracteata, and Calopogonium mucunoides. These results suggest that M. pruriens is the most shade-tolerant and productive species for use as a cover crop in shaded plantation systems.