Chemical composition and in vitro neutral detergent fibre digestibility of treated rice straw supplemented with pigeon pea (<i>Cajanus cajan</i>) hay

Abstract

The study investigated the chemical composition and in vitro neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility of treated rice straw supplemented with pigeon pea hay. The treated rice straw comprised fungi-treated (Pleurotus sajor-caju) rice straw (FTRS), ammonia- treated rice straw (ATRS) and untreated rice straw (UnTRS). The three treated rice straws were supplemented with or without 50% pigeon pea hay in a completely randomised design experiment. The crude protein (CP) concentration of fungi (4.4%) and ammonia (8.3%) treated rice straw appreciated relative to the untreated (2.8%) rice straw. Similarly, the treatment of rice straw influenced the NDF (FTRS [63.9%], ATRS[73.8%],UnTRS[73.4%]) and ADF(ftrs[38.6%], ATRS[41.1%] UnTRS[40.4%]) concentration. The supplementation of rice straw with pigeon pea hay reduced NDF (FTRS [54.8%], ATRS [59.4%] uNtrs [62.5%]) and and ADF (FTRS [27.4%, ATRS [13.6%] UnTRS [30.7%]) concentrations compared with the un-supplemented. In vitro dry matter true digestibility (IVDMTD) of the UnTRS was about 20% (P&lt;0.05) less than the NH3TRS + Pigeon pea. The neutral detergent fibre digestibility (NDFD %) was significantly lower in the UnTRS compared to the other treatments. The digestible neutral detergent fibre (dNDF %) decreased in the order of NH3TRS + Pigeon pea &lt; FTRS &lt; FTRS + Pigeon pea &lt; Sole Pigeon pea hay &lt; UnTRS + Pigeon pea &lt; UnTRS. The UnTRS had a significantly higher indigestible neutral detergent fibre (iNDF) than the other treatments. In conclusion, rice straw's nutrient composition and digestibility improved when treated with ammonia or fungi and supplemented with pigeon pea hay.