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Effect of Variety on Proportion of Botanical Fractions and Nutritive Value of Different Napiergrass (pennisetum Purpureum) and Relationship Between Botanical Fractions and Nutritive Value

M. R. Islam*
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1341, Bangladesh

C. K. Saha
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1341, Bangladesh

N. R. Sarker
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1341, Bangladesh

M. A. Jalil
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1341, Bangladesh

M. Hasanuzzaman
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1341, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Five varieties of napiergrasses (Pennisetum purpureum) were fractionated botanically into leaf blade, leaf sheath, stem and head. Chemical composition of each of whole napiergrass and their botanical fractions were determined. Correlation, linear and multiple regressions between botanical fractions and nutritive value of varieties of napiergrass were also estimated. All botanical fractions differed due to the effect of variety. Napier Pusha contained the highest proportion of leaf blade and internode, but the lowest proportion of leaf sheath. Napier Hybrid contained the lowest proportion of leaf blade, but highest proportion of node. Consequently, napier Pusha contained the highest (p<0.01) crude protein (CP, 9.0%), but Napier Hybrid had the lowest CP (7.0%). Chemical composition of whole plant differed significantly (p<0.01; except NFE, p>0.05) due to the variety. Not only the whole plant, chemical composition of most botanical fractions of whole plant differed (p<0.05 to 0.01) due to the variety. The intrarelationships between leaf blade and leaf sheath was negative (r=-0.43). Leaf sheath was also negatively correlated to CP, but positively correlated to ash of whole Napier or their botanical fractions. Leaf blade, on the other hand, increases CP but decreases ash content of whole plant or their fractions. These results, therefore, suggest that napiergrass varieties differ widely in terms of botanical fractions and nutritive value, which may have important implications on intake and productivity of animals. Furthermore, napiergrass varieties should be selected for leaf blade only for a better response

Keywords: Napier, Variety, Botanical Fractions, Leaf Blade, Selection

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Quality and Nutrition

Commodity: Fodder

Objectives:

The present study was undertaken to know the proportion of different botanical fractions and chemical composition of five varieties of napiergrass. Another objective of the study was to investigate the potential of botanical fractions in estimating nutritive value of napiergrass.

Methodology:

Five varieties of napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum) grass taking 10 kg from each plot and each variety namely; Arusha, Hybrid, Pusha, 17 and Bazra were collected from the fodder experimental plots of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute. Grasses were sown on mid-May 1998 in a Completely Randomized Design having 3 replications (plot) for each grass. Size of each plot was 6×4 m². During sampling, grasses were in second year of establishment. During the first year, grasses were first cut on 90 days after planting and then regularly between 60 and 65 days of interval after each cutting. Therefore, grasses were first cut on mid-August. The samples for botanical fractions and chemical analysis used in this study were taken after 60 days of second year establishment i.e. 415 days after planting. In other words, the parameters used in this experiment were taken from the 6-th cut of all varieties of napiergrasses and hence all grasses were on the same stage of growth. All of these grasses were fertilized with 23.5 kg fertilizer N/ha after each cutting (i.e. harvest). Irrigation was made available when necessary. Mean annual temperature of the area ranged from 25.5 to 26.3°C and average rainfall ranged from 1,424 to 2,471 mm per annum. The soil color was brown and contain on an average 22% clay, 64% silt, 12.5% sand and 1.5% organic materials in top 10 cm layer.

To determine the proportion of botanical fractions, grasses from each variety were cut at 5-6 cm height. Triplicates of 1-kg from each variety were fractionated into four fractions namely; leaf blade, leaf sheath, internode and node. The fractions of each variety were then weighed individually, dried (60°C for 48 h) and divided by total weight and multiplied by 100 to determine the proportion of each fraction. Then the botanical fractions of each variety and the sample of whole plant were sun-dried and grounded through 1 mm sieve by Willy Mill for chemical analysis. The dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), nitrogen-free extract (NFE) and ash were determined following AOAC (1984). Data on chemical composition were analyzed by Completely Randomized Design (Steel and Torrie, 1980) using SAS (1988). The relationship (r), linear and multiple relationships between botanical fractions and nutritive value were estimated by using SAS (1988).

Source of Information: Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. Vol 16, No. 6 : 837-842

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The five napiergrass studied differed in most of the characteristics signifies that the variety should be selected cautiously for productive purposes. Leaf-blade has been identified as the most important criteria for selection of napiergrass. However, selection of napiergrass based on leaf (i.e. leaf blade and leaf sheath) may be misleading since in contrast to leaf blade, leaf sheath linked to such characteristics of napiergrass which may limit intake, digestibility and animals productive response.

Knowledge Management: Journal