Chemical composition, In vitro gas production and tannin biological activity of Prosopis juliflora pods varying with harvesting season

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Asmamaw Zafu
Adugna Tolera
Yisehak Kochero
Ajebu Nurfeta

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of harvesting season on chemical composition, in vitro gas production and tannin biological activity of Prosopis juliflora pod. P. juliflora pods were collected during dry (May/June) and wet (September/October) seasons from three districts (Asayta, Dubti and Amibara) of Afar region, Ethiopia. Dry matter, ash, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, total phenols, total
tannin and condensed tannin content were higher (P<0.05) for pods collected during dry season while crude protein content was lower (P<0.05) for dry season pods. Gas production at 24h incubation, gas production from immediately fermentable fraction (a), gas production from water insoluble but potentially fermentable fraction (b), potential gas production (a+b), the rate constant of gas production (c) were higher (P<0.05) for pods collected during wet season whereas, lag time (L) of P. juliflora pod were higher (P<0.05) during the dry season. Lower (P<0.05) organic matter digestibility, metabolizable energy and short chain fatty acids contents were recorded at 24h of incubation of pods collected during dry season than those of wet season. The tannin activity was higher (P<0.05) for pods collected in the dry season (7.76%) than in the wet season (4.16 %). The overall results of this study revealed a decline in crude protein, organic matter digestibility, short chain fatty acid and metabolizable energy of P. juliflora
pods during the dry season. Therefore, it is recommended to use different strategies such as supplementation of pod by mixing with better quality feeds or application of physical and chemical treatments to reduce the impacts of dry season on nutritional quality of P. juliflora pod.

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How to Cite
Zafu, A., Tolera, A., Kochero, Y., & Nurfeta, A. (1). Chemical composition, In vitro gas production and tannin biological activity of Prosopis juliflora pods varying with harvesting season . Ethiopian Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 11(1), 36 - 42. Retrieved from https://ejhs.ju.edu.et/index.php/ejast/article/view/2858
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Author Biographies

Asmamaw Zafu, Samara University

Samara University,

College of Dry land Agriculture,

P.O. Box, 132,

Samara, Ethiopia

Adugna Tolera, Hawassa University

Hawassa University, \

College of Agriculture,

P.O. Box 5,

Hawassa, Ethiopia

Yisehak Kochero, Areba Minch University

Areba Minch University,

College of Agricultural Sciences,

P.O. Box 21,

Areba Minch, Ethiopia

Ajebu Nurfeta, Hawassa University

Hawassa University,

College of Agriculture,

P.O. Box 5,

Hawassa, Ethiopia