A.A. Aganga
Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana
U.J. Omphile
Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana
T. Thema
Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana
J.C. Baitshotlhi
Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to determine the influence of additives on the chemical composition of napier grass (P. purpureum) cut at five different heights of growth (50, 75 cm, 1, 1.25 and 1.5 m). They were harvested monthly from September 2003 to January 2004. The grass samples were ensiled and then analysed for the proximate composition, in vitro digestibility, nutrients and mineral elements. The young and immature napier grass cut at 50 cm height were highly digestible but as maturity increased, yield also increased, but quality decreased. The digestibility decreased as lignifications of the plant material increased with grass height and maturity. There was improved chemical composition and digestibility of napier grass silage cut at different heights treated with additives compared to the plain napier grass silage without additives.
PDF References Citation
How to cite this article
A.A. Aganga, U.J. Omphile, T. Thema and J.C. Baitshotlhi, 2005. Chemical Composition of Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) at
Different Stages of Growth and Napier Grass Silages with Additives. Journal of Biological Sciences, 5: 493-496.
DOI: 10.3923/jbs.2005.493.496
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jbs.2005.493.496
DOI: 10.3923/jbs.2005.493.496
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jbs.2005.493.496
REFERENCES
- Aganga, A.A., U.J. Omphile, T. Thema and L.Z. Wilson, 2004. Chemical composition of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) at different stages of growth and ryegrass silages with additives. J. Biol. Sci., 4: 645-649.
CrossRefDirect Link - Yakota, H.T. and M. Ohshima, 1991. Effect of environmental temperature and addition of molasses on the quality of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum schum) silage. Asia-Aust. J. Anim. Sci., 4: 377-382.
Direct Link - Burton, G.W., 1993. African Grasses. In: New Crops, Janick, J. and J.E. Simon (Eds.). Wiley, New York, pp: 294-298.
Direct Link