Chemical Composition and In-vitro Organic Matter Digestibility of Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schumach) Accessions in the Mid and Highland Areas of Ethiopia

2016-04-04T01-57-35Z
Source: International Journal of Livestock Research
Gezahagn Kebede, Fekede Feyissa, Getnet Assefa, Mengistu Alemayehu, Almayehu Mengistu, Aemiro Kehaliew, Kassahun Melese, Solomon Mengistu, Estifanos Tadesse, Shewangizaw Wolde, Mergia Abera Abera.
Ten accessions of Napier grass were evaluated for their chemical composition and in-vitro organic matter digestibility at Holetta and Areka environmental conditions during 2014 cropping season. The study was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on nutritional qualities were analyzed using the general linear model procedures of SAS and least significance difference was used for mean comparisons. The result showed that Napier grass accessions respond differently for chemical composition and in-vitro organic matter digestibility at both testing environments. The chemical compositions and in-vitro organic matter digestibility indicated that the mean ash, CP, IVOMD, ADF, and cellulose contents were comparatively higher at Holetta than Areka conditions. On the other hand, the mean CP yield, digestible yield, NDF, ADL and hemicellulose contents were higher at Areka than Holetta. The CP and IVOMD were higher in the highlands while CP yield, digestible yield and most fiber components were relatively higher in the mid altitude areas indicating that temperature and amount of rainfall and distribution had an adverse effect on the feed quality of Napier grass. At Holetta, accession 16783 gave the highest ash (153.6 g/kg DM), CP (63.7 g/kg DM) and IVOMD (534.7 g/kg DM) contents. The highest CPY (0.6 t/ha) and DY (5.4 t/ha) was obtained from accession 16791 at Holetta. Similarly, the highest ash (122.2 g/kg DM), CP (66.6 g/kg DM), IVOMD (417.3 g/kg DM), CPY (1.1 t/ha) and DY (7.6 t/ha) was recorded for accession 16815, 16792, 16817, 16815 and 16819 respectively at Areka. The major structural constitutes indicated that accession 16817 and 16794 gave the highest NDF content at Holetta (785.7 g/kg DM) and Areka (836.2 g/kg DM) respectively. The nutritional traits such as ash and ADF contents; ADF and ADL contents; and ADL and hemicellulose contents were significantly and positively correlated with each other. Generally, the accessions had a great variation in most measured nutritional traits due to differential responses of the genotypes to various edaphic, climatic and biotic factors.


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