Short communicationNutritive evaluation of some nitrogen and non-nitrogen fixing multipurpose tree species
Introduction
Trees and shrubs have been used for generations as multipurpose resources (food, fodder, timber, wood, fibre and live fences) across all of the agro-ecological zones of the world (Smith, 1992). Cutting of tree leaves or branches for animal feed is recorded as early as Roman times. In countries like India, experiencing a monsoonal climate, trees and fodder shrubs may be the only living feed resources available during the driest months when shallow rooted grasses and herbs die off (Chen et al., 1992). Further, sustained and high population growth rates, combined with limited and rapidly diminishing land holdings and land for food and forage production, have created a need to intensify the research for new resources. Intensification, in the context of livestock production systems, means a broadening of the feed resource base for both quantity and quality. One of the alternative feed resources is the use of multipurpose tree species for top fodder production (NCA, 1976). Much work has been done world wide on the evaluation and use of leguminous fodder trees and shrubs, while the studies with non-nitrogen fixing multipurpose tree species are quite obscure. Under certain soil and climatic conditions, leguminous tree species do not perform well, while the non-nitrogen fixing trees, which are quite hardy, can be fitted in the agroforestry systems and may be exploited for livestock feeding.
Since feed or fodder value is indicated by its nutrient content and digestibility, in this study an attempt has been made to document the nutritive content and in sacco degradability of some leguminous and non-nitrogen fixing tree leaf materials.
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Materials and methods
Five each of nitrogen (NFT) and non-nitrogen fixing multipurpose tree (non-NFT) species (Table 1) were grown at the National Research Centre for Agroforestry (78°35′E longitude and 25°26′N latitude and about 275 m above sea level). Annual long-term rainfall for the site is estimated to 906 mm falling predominantly from June to September. Temperature rises to a maximum 47.4°C in May and falls to a minimum of 1.0°C in January. Evaporation is highest (441 mm) in May and lowest (55.8 mm) in January.
Protein and organic matter contents
Mean CP content (g kg−1 DM) of NFT leaf materials was 174±10.7 and 96±1.5 in non-NFT. Lowest CP concentration was recorded in F. bengalensis and highest in L. leucocephala. CP contents varied significantly (P<0.05) amongst the leaf materials of evaluated MPTs. Mean OM contents were 903±5.3 and 916±6.5 g kg−1 DM in NFT and non-NFT with a maximum in A. pendula and a minimum in A. lebbeck, respectively showing non-significant difference between the groups.
Cell wall contents
The mean NDF contents (g kg−1 DM) were relatively
Discussion and conclusions
The MPTs, namely, A. nilotica, L. leucocephala, A. pendula and T. arjuna have greatest potential for agroforestry in degraded lands in terms of nutritive value of the pruned foliage. The leafy material contained (kg−1 DM) medium to high CP (93–228 g) and high degradable DM, OM, CP (749–881, 771–885, 672–920 g, respectively) and optimum NDF (261–360 g). NRC, 1985, NRC, 1989 suggested that diet for mature beef cattle should contain (kg−1 DM) a minimum of 70 g CP and for the high producing cow was 190 g
Acknowledgements
The first author is grateful to the Director and Head of PAR division, IGFRI, Jhansi for providing the facilities for in sacco degradability assays.
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