Fodder Biomass Yield, Feeding Value and Palatabilty of Shrub Fodder Species Grown in Marginal Lands in the Mid Contry of Sri Lanka
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Date
1996-08-10
Authors
Perera, A. N. F.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya
Abstract
Marginal lands in the mid country region are steep, heavily eroded and highly acidic. In most of these lands the top soil is limited to a very thin layer or completely cb;ent. Therefore, this study was conducted' to evaluate the potential of different shrub species for fodder biomass production. feeding value and preference by ruminants. This will provide an opportunity to introduce a profitable livestock. production system to generate a successful income source for the resource poor farmers in the mid country region. Legumes; Gliricidia sepium, Calliandra calothyrsus, Erythrina verigeta, Desmodium ransonii, F1emingia macrophylla and non legumes ; Tithonia diversifolia, Morus alba were established in double raw hedges, 7 meters apart. Leaf dry matter yields (LDMY) were estimated for 100m. linear lengths, with a lopping cycle of 16 weeks for a period of 1 year. Highest LDMY was observed in E. Verigeta (276±23 kg. DMIyear) and the lowest was in D. ransonii (86±12 kg. DMIyear).
G. sepium, L. leucocephala, C. calothyrsus and F. macrophylla produced a LDMY of 205±17, 188±18, 165±10 and lOO±15 kglyear, respectively. Tithonia diversifolia and M .alba yielded 146±22 and 143±16 kgIyear, respectively. The Crude Protein (CP) content of leguminous shrub species ranged from 210±21 gIkg (F. macrophylla) to 270±21 gIkg (c. calothyrsus). In non leguminous species, T. diversifolia had a higher CP content (180±26 g/kg) than M alba (120±32 . lY'kg). Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) in all fodder species were above 300±21 g/kg., and the highest . was in F. macrophylla (480±63 g/kg.), Lignin content was highly variable between species, from as low as 81±14 g/kg, (D. ransonii) to as high as 284±26 g/kg, (F. macrophyllay. The In Vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was above 500 gIkg. in all fodder species, except for F. macrophylla (466±124 g/kg.). The highest rapidly degradable fraction (a) was in G. sepium (42.0"10)and lowest in F macrophylla (24.4%). The potential degradability (a+b) was highest in T. diversifolia (79.4%). The highest soluble .fraction of nitrogen were in G. sepium and E. verigeta (59.1 % and 52.6%, respectively). All fodder species, except F. macrophyl/a and C. calothyrsus consist a potential degradable nitrogen (a+b), above 80%. The most preferred fodder species was M alba and the least preferred was F. macrophy/la (720 and 300 g. DMldIhead). This study suggest that the legwninous and non leguminous fodder species performed successfully in marginal lands and open an avenue for ruminant livestock production through providing quality fodder biomass for feeding.
Description
Keywords
Agriculture , Fodder biomass
Citation
Proceedings of the Annual Research Sessions, August 10,1996, Uninversity of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, pp 7-11