Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

This study was conducted to promote the utilization of water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes) plants as feed.

Water hyacinth was cultivated at the eutrophic lake, Ezuko in Kumamoto city from May, 1982 to December, 1984. The plants had the highest absorbing ability from October to November in a growing season. The raw material of the silage has been used for the plants harvested in October, 1984. After being washed, the plants were squeezed by the roller press machine and the press cake containing 85% moisture was used as raw silage material. The quality of the silage was ranked excellent grade by the Flieg's method. The pH values ranged from 3.98 to 4.01 and the concentration of ammoniac nitrogen was low. The digestibilities of dry matter and crude protein in the silage ensiled by adding of molasses and formic acids were 55 .3% and 55 .1 % , respectively by the digestibility trial using four sheep. In the silage, the digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrient values were found to be 9 .39% and 48. 96%, respectively. Moreover, the in vitro digestibility of the plant's leaf protein was not inferior to that of corn leaf protein.

The results of the study must be to promote the practical use of the plants hereafter.

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Studies on the Utilization of Water Hyacinth Plants as Feed

Kyoto Japan

This study was conducted to promote the utilization of water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes) plants as feed.

Water hyacinth was cultivated at the eutrophic lake, Ezuko in Kumamoto city from May, 1982 to December, 1984. The plants had the highest absorbing ability from October to November in a growing season. The raw material of the silage has been used for the plants harvested in October, 1984. After being washed, the plants were squeezed by the roller press machine and the press cake containing 85% moisture was used as raw silage material. The quality of the silage was ranked excellent grade by the Flieg's method. The pH values ranged from 3.98 to 4.01 and the concentration of ammoniac nitrogen was low. The digestibilities of dry matter and crude protein in the silage ensiled by adding of molasses and formic acids were 55 .3% and 55 .1 % , respectively by the digestibility trial using four sheep. In the silage, the digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrient values were found to be 9 .39% and 48. 96%, respectively. Moreover, the in vitro digestibility of the plant's leaf protein was not inferior to that of corn leaf protein.

The results of the study must be to promote the practical use of the plants hereafter.