SILAGE QUALITIES, ANTINUTRITIONAL CONTENTS AND FERMENTATION PARAMETERS OF TYPHA (Typha domingensis) GRASS WITH OR WITHOUT ADDITIVES

Abstract

The study evaluates the effects of height at harvest and treatment with molasses-urea on silage qualities, antinutritional and fermentation parameters of Typha (Typha domingensis) grass.. The Typha grass were chopped to 2 - 3 cm, compressed in polythene bags after adding of molasses (4.5 g), urea (2.5 g) to 88 g of Typha packed and ensiled for 90 days. Treatments comprised of control (T1); 0.5 m tall Typha grass, T2; 0.5 m tall treated Typha grass with molasses-urea, T3; 1.5 m tall Typha grass and T4; 1.5 m tall Typha grass treated with molasses-urea laid in completely randomized design. The results of the study revealed significant (P<0.05) difference in pH with 4.09 in T1 as compared to T4 with 4.39. All the treatments have pleasant or sweet aroma, pale yellow to light brown colour. Oxalate, Phytate, Saponin, Tannin and Flavonoids were significantly (P<0.05) different among all treatments. Propionic acid (2.97 mM) and Acetic acid (6.02 mM) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T4 while Butyric acid (0.41m M) is higher in T3. Total volatile acids (49.62 mM), NH3-H (11.55 mM), Potential gas production (226 m/g in dry matter) and effective dry matter degradability (EDMD) (25%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 while Methane (4.8 Mol/0.05 mg DM) was higher in T3. It was concluded that Typha grass harvested at 0.5 m height treated with molasses-urea have better silage qualities, NH3-H, EDMD, lower antinutritional contents and methane content. It is recommended that Typha grass can be ensiled with molasses-urea for better silage qualities and fermentation parameters.