Effects of different levels of defoliation on growth and production of Cichorium intybus

The study was conducted to evaluate the growth and production of cichory (Cichorium intybus L.) on different levels of defoliation. Experiments were carried out at forage facilities owned by Laboratory of Animal Forages and Pasture at Faculty of Animal Science UGM. One-way completely randomized design was employed on the experiment, with a follow up of Duncan Multiple Range Test on statistically different results. Variables observed on this study are vegetative phase-growth and biomass production. Chicory (aged 7 months; and on 8th regrowth) were planted on 1 × 1.5 m2 plots, with 3 replication. Defoliation treatments were performed on different levels, i.e., 2.5 cm, 5 cm, and 10 cm above the ground surface. Chicory were cut on day-21. All data obtained from the experiment were subjected to variance analysis. The results showed that different levels of defoliation affected plant length, leaf length, leaf width, number of buds, and biomass production significantly (P<0.05). The highest biomass production was observed on Cichorium intybus which defoliated on the 10 cm above the ground surface, yielding 13.40 ton/ha fresh production, 1.09 ton/ha dry matter (DM), and 0.88 ton/ha organic matter (OM). According to this study, defoliation on 2.5 cm above the ground surface produced smaller growth and biomass production than groups defoliated on 5 and 10 cm, yet showed the highest number of buds.