Mineral solubility of Panicum maximum with four herbaceous forage legume mixtures incubated in the rumen of N' Dama steers.
This study was designed to determine the mineral concentration and bioavailability of iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) of mixtures of Panicum maximum (Panicum) with Lablab purpureus (Lablab), Centrosema pubescens (Centro), Stylosanthes guianensis (Stylo), and Aeschynomene histrix (Histrix) in a fistulated N'Dama steer. The solubility of minerals was determined by an in sacco method by incubating ground samples of these forages in the rumen at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. The mineral solubility characteristics of the forages were evaluated using the equation PD = a + b (1 - e(-ct)). The result showed that Panicum intercropped with legumes had better crude protein (CP) (av. 9.22% DM) and ash content (av. 2.22% DM) than sole Panicum which gave 7.63% DM and 1.84% DM for CP and ash contents respectively. The highest value of CP of 23.29% DM and ash content (3.96% DM) was obtained for Lablab. The mineral content values of the intercrop were higher than the sole Panicum. Higher mineral content values were obtained in the sole legumes. Iron solubility values of b and potential degradation (PD) which were 58.71% and 87.92% respectively were for Panicum/Histrix mixtures. Calcium solubility values ranged from 30.0% in Panicum to 46.0% in Panicum/Lablab mixture for b fraction. P solubility ranged from 28.0% and 46.0% for b and PD fractions in Panicum to 43.0% and 71.0% in Panicum/Centro mixture respectively. The solubility of the legumes was higher in Na for b fraction (av. 42.0%) and PD fraction (av. 60.0%). Higher values of b (av. 38.0%) and PD (av. 52.0%) were obtained for the mixtures than for sole Panicum. This study revealed that intercropping Panicum with either of the herbaceous forage legumes used for this experiment would increase the Ca, P, Na and Fe contents of the grass.
Ajayi
Festus T
FT
Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria. ajayiajay@yahoo.com
Babayemi
Olaniyi Jacob
OJ
Taiwo
Abiodun A
AA
D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility
D008903:Minerals