Evaluation
of levels of sugar palm (Borassus flabellifer) syrup and times of
wilting for ensiling cassava leaves (Manihot esculenta Crantz)
Prak Kea (Cambodia)
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Evaluation
of levels of sugar palm (Borassus flabellifer) syrup and times of
wilting for ensiling cassava leaves (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Prak Kea (Cambodia) |
Abstract
A
laboratory scale experiment was conducted to study the effect of three
levels of sugar palm (Borassus flabellifer) syrup: 5, 10 and 15% in
fresh basis of syrup diluted 1:1, three times of wilting: 0, 24 and 48 hr
and three times of storage: 7, 14 and 21 days on silage characteristics of
cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaves and petioles harvested
from a perennial plantation. The experiment was designed as a 3x3x3
factorial arrangement with four replications per treatment. Chemical
characteristics of the harvested cassava leaves and petioles were: DM 16.6
%; organic matter 91.6 %; Nx6.25 32.4%; water solubility of DM 45.7%;
cyanide 287 mg/kg in dry basis respectively. Initial pH and DM content of
silages prepared with 5, 10 and 15% sugar palm syrup were 5.2 and 18.7%,
4.6 and 19.9%, 5.0 and 20.39% with 0 hr of wilting. Corresponding values
for 24 hr of wilting were 6.2 and 27.4%, 6.1 and 29.5%, and 6.1 and 31.5%.
Similar values for 48 hr of wilting were 7.4 and 70.1%, 7.4 and 71.8%, 7.1
and 68.2% respectively. Average ambient temperature during the experiment was 30o C at 12:00. There was not significant interaction (P>0.05) amongst the different factors studied. The overall pH profile of the ensiled material showed a sharp drop at wilting time 0 hr from 3.8 to 3.6, from 4.3 to 3.9 at wilting time 24 hr and wilting time 48 hr from 8.0 to 6.4 respectively. A highly significant (P<0.001) decrease in pH values and increase in total acidity was observed after 7 days of ensiling in all treatments. This effect was more evident in silages with high levels of sugar palm syrup and less time of wilting. Silages with 14 days after 48 hr of wilting were discarded due to a serious fungal contamination. Silages with 14 days after 0 or 24 hr of wilting exhibited low pH values, but there were no significant different from those with only 7 days of storage. According
to results from the present experiment, it is not recommended a wilting
time of 48 hours after ensiling of the cassava leaves and petioles. The
inclusion of sugar palm syrup up to 10 % for enhancing the ensiling
process of the biomass is suggested. Key
words: Ensiled cassava leaves, sugar palm syrup, pH, total acidity,
Manihot esculenta Crantz, Borassus flabellifer |
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Grinding cassava leaves and Petioles |
Cassava ensiling |
