Publication Date
1997
Description
Chromolaena odorata plant has been classified as a weed. A survey in farming communities in Ghana indicated that the plant is used to reduce fallowing period; improve soil fertility, as medicinal plant; as insect and rodent repellent for temporal storage of maize; and preservation of corpse for about 48 hours in rural Ghana. Studies on foliage of Chromolaena odorata regrowth at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks showed that the leaves had crude protein content above 19%, average leaf to stem ratio of 2.1:1, and stem to leaf protein concentration ratio of 0.49. In-sacco degradability rate of dry matter, crude protein and gross energy of leaves at 24 hours of incubation were very high (>89%). When Chromolaena odorata leaf (8 weeks old) was incorporated at incremental levels of 10, 20, and 30% to replace maize in a standard rabbit diet, it led to non significant (P<0.05) decrease in dry matter intake but an increase in dry matter, crude protein and gross energy digestibilities.
Citation
Apori, S O., "Chromolaena Odorata: A Multipurpose Shrub" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 15.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session16/15
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Chromolaena Odorata: A Multipurpose Shrub
Chromolaena odorata plant has been classified as a weed. A survey in farming communities in Ghana indicated that the plant is used to reduce fallowing period; improve soil fertility, as medicinal plant; as insect and rodent repellent for temporal storage of maize; and preservation of corpse for about 48 hours in rural Ghana. Studies on foliage of Chromolaena odorata regrowth at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks showed that the leaves had crude protein content above 19%, average leaf to stem ratio of 2.1:1, and stem to leaf protein concentration ratio of 0.49. In-sacco degradability rate of dry matter, crude protein and gross energy of leaves at 24 hours of incubation were very high (>89%). When Chromolaena odorata leaf (8 weeks old) was incorporated at incremental levels of 10, 20, and 30% to replace maize in a standard rabbit diet, it led to non significant (P<0.05) decrease in dry matter intake but an increase in dry matter, crude protein and gross energy digestibilities.
