Nutritional Quality of Local Forages in Relation to Soil Characteristics at UPTD Api-Api

Forage plays a central role in sustaining ruminant production because its chemical composition influences intake, digestibility, and nutrient use efficiency. Soil characteristics affect nutrient availability, biological activity, and forage growth, making integrated evaluation of soil and forage essential. This study aimed to analyse the nutritional quality of local forages in relation to soil characteristics at UPTD Api-Api, Penajam Paser Utara Regency. Soil samples were collected from four land blocks, while forage samples consisted of Brachiaria humidicola, Pennisetum purpureophoides, Pennisetum clandestinum, Pennisetum purpureum cv. Gama Umami, Pennisetum purpureum, and Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum americanum. Soil analysis included texture, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation. Forage analysis covered moisture, ash, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, and total digestible nutrients (TDN). The results showed that all soil blocks were acidic, with low to moderate organic carbon, very low total nitrogen, and low cation exchange capacity and base saturation. These conditions indicate that soil fertility remains a limiting factor for forage development at the study site. Nutritional quality varied among forage species. P. purpureum × P. americanum, P. purpureum cv. Gama Umami, and P. clandestinum had the highest crude protein contents, whereas B. humidicola showed the highest TDN value. The findings confirm that local forages cultivated at the study site have good potential to support ruminant feeding systems. Improvement in forage quality, however, requires better soil management through acidity correction, organic matter enrichment, and improved nutrient management.