Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nutritive value of introduced bamboo species in the northwestern Himalayas, India

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Forestry Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bamboos are used extensively for a variety of purposes, and many new species have been introduced to the northwestern Himalaya. However, their potential as a fodder species has not been investigated. Six bamboo species, namely Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Gamble, Dendrocalamus asper (Schult. and Schult.f.) Backer ex K. Heyne, Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz, Phyllostachys aurea Riviére and C. Riviére, Phyllostachys bambusoides Sieb and Zucc. and Phyllostachys pubescens (Pradelle) Mazel ex J. Houz. were evaluated for their nutritional value, relative palatability and best lopping time. Dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), and crude fibre varied from (37.0–67.7)%, (4.7–7.6), and (22.1–37.9)%, respectively. Values of crude protein ranged from (12.2–17.1)%, total ash (TA) from (11.8–21.5)%, acid insoluble ash (AIA) from (0.3–0.5)%, nitrogen free extract from (31.1–40.8)%, carbohydrates from (57.0–69.0)%, organic matter (OM) from (78.5–88.2)%, calcium from (1.7–2.3)%, phosphorus from (0.4–0.8)%, potassium from, (0.9–1.6)%, magnesium from (0.5–0.9)%, sodium from (603.7–1072.7) × 10−6 and vitamin A from (21.1–30.5) × 10−2 mg/g, respectively. D. hamiltonii had maximum values for DM, EE, TA and AIA. OM and vitamin A were highest in M. baccifera. CF and carbohydrates were maximized in P. aurea and CP in P. pubescens. All the values obtained for different bamboo species were less than maximum tolerable concentration of common feed resources of the region thereby indicating their suitability for nutrition and palatability. The contents of anti-nutritional factors, namely hydrocyanic acid and tannin ranged from (33.8–61.7) × 10−2 mg/g and (0.7–1.9)%, respectively. P. pubescens was the best species from a palatability point of view and has maximum crude protein content (17.2%), Ca (2.3%) and lowest tannin content (0.7%). The relative palatability of introduced bamboo species followed trend: P. pubescens (97.6%) > D. hamiltonii (92.5%) > P. bambusoides (81.2%) > D. asper (76.9%) > M. baccifera (75.9%) > P. aurea (73.4%). The optimum months for lopping these species for green leaves are November and December, as the nutritional value declines sharply thereafter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahn JH, Robertson DM, Elliot R, Gutheridge RC, Ford CW (1989) Quality assessment of tropical browse legumes, tannin content and protein degradation. Anim Feed Sci Technol 27(1–2):147–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alban DH (1985) Seasonal changes in nutrient concentration and content of Aspen suckers in Minnesota. For Sci 31(3):785–794

    Google Scholar 

  • Anele OY, Arigbede OM, Olanite JA, Adekunle IO, Jolasho AO, Onifade OS, Oni AO (2008) Early growth and seasonal chemical composition of three multipurpose tree species. Agrofor Syst 17(2):1107–1111

    Google Scholar 

  • Antwi-Boasiako C, Coffie GY, Darkwa NA (2011) Proximate composition of the leaves of Bambusa ventricosa, Oxytenanthera abyssinica and two varieties of Bambusa vulgaris. Sci Res Essays 6(34):6835–6839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AOAC (1990) Official method of analysis. Animal feeds, 15th edn. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Virginia, pp 1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben Salem H, Smith T (2008) Feeding strategies to increase small ruminant production in dry environments. Small Rumin Res 77(2–3):174–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhandari MS, Kaushal R, Banik RL, Tewari S (2015) Genetic evaluation of nutritional and fodder quality of different bamboo species. Indian For 141(3):265–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns JC, Cope WA (1974) Nutritive value of crown vetch forage as influenced by stratial constituents and phenolic and tannin compounds. Agron J 66(2):195–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chander D, Niranjan M, Chhabra A, Dhiman KR (2006) Nutritional evaluation of different bamboo leaves of Tripura. Indian J Dairy Sci 59(3):376–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandra J, Mali MC (2014) Nutritional evaluation of top five fodder tree leaves of Mimosaceae family of arid region of Rajasthan. Int J Innov Res Rev 2(1):23–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman HD, Pratt PF (1961) Methods of analysis for soils, plants, and waters. Riverside Press, Cambridge, p 309

    Google Scholar 

  • Datt C, Datta MP, Singh MP (2008) Assessment of fodder quality of leaves of multipurpose trees in subtropical humid climate of India. J For Res 19(3):209–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duck JA, Atchly A (1986) Handbook of proximate analysis tables of higher plants. CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton, pp 531–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans J (1979) The effect of leaf position and leaf age in foliar analysis of Gmelina arborea. Plant Soil 52(4):547–552

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guha MM, Mitchell RL (1966) The trace and major elemental composition of the leaves of some deciduous trees. Plant Soil 24(1):90–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halvorson JJ, Cassida KA, Turner KE (2010) Nutritive value of bamboo as browse for livestock. Renew Agric Food Syst 9:241–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry DA, Moore G, Dynes RA (2002) Variability in nutritive value allows better selection of perennial pasture legumes. Aust J Anim Prod 2(6):74–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang P (1985) Study on the mineral nutrition of Phyllostachyspubescens. In: Rao AN, Dhanarajan G, Sastry CB (eds) Recent research on bamboos. Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, pp 99–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Jha AN, Chaturvedi OP (1990) Seasonal variations in dry matter and nutrients in the leaves of Bauhinia variegata and Dendrocalamus strictus. Range Manag Agrofor 11(2):207–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Juma HK, Abdulrazak SA, Muinga RW, Ambula MK (2006) Evaluation of Clitoria, Gliricida and Mucuna as nitrogen supplement to Napier grass basal diet in relation to season and their performance in lactating Jersey cow. Livest. Sci. 103(1–2):23–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawas JR, Andrade MH, Lu CD (2010) Strategic nutrient supplementation of free ranging goats. Small Rumin Res 89(2–3):234–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S (2010). Studies on distribution, growth and biological yield potential of bamboos in Himachal Pradesh. Thesis Ph.D., Dr. Y S Parmar, Nauni, Solan (HP), India, University of Horticulture and Forestry, p 161

  • Makkar HP (1992) Vanilin–HCl method for condensed tannins: effect of organic solvent used for extraction of tannin. J Sci Food Agric 52(3):287–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandal TN, Gautam TP (2012) Chemical analysis of fodder tree leaves found in Sunsari district, Nepal. Bibechana 8:131–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Agriculture (2012) 19th livestock census-2012. Annual report of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries

  • Mueller Harvey I, McAllan AB (1992) Tannins: their biochemistry and nutritional properties. Adv Plant Cell Biochem Biotechnol 1:151–217

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Narayan TR, Dabadghao PM (1972) Forage crop of India. ICAR, New Delhi, pp 294–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordheim-Viken H, Volden H (2009) Effect of maturity stage, nitrogen fertilization and seasonal variation on ruminal characteristics of neutral detergent fibre in timothy (Phleum pretense L.). Anim Feed Sci Technol 149:30–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NRC (National Research Council) (1989) Nutrient requirement of domestic cattle. National Academy of Science. Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (National Research Council) (2001) Overview of mineral nutrition in cattle: dairy and beef. National Academy of Science. Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Owokotomo IA, Owoeye G (2011) Proximate analysis and antimicrobial activities of Bambusa vulgaris leaves beverage. Afr J Agric Res 6(21):5030–5032

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandey KK (1975) Importance of fodder trees and trees fodder in Nepal. M.Sc. Thesis, Switzerland Institute of Plant Production, Federal Technology University, Zurich

  • Pasha TN, Prigge EC, Russell RW, Bryan WB (1994) Influence of moisture content of forage diets on intake and digestion by sheep. J Anim Sci 79(2):2455–2463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pokhriyal OM, Anele UY, Jolaosho AO, Onifade OS, Olanite JA, Wahab TA (1992) Seasonal chemical composition and in-vitro gas production of different bamboo species. Anim Feed Sci Technol 154(1):47–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Poudyal P (1993) Aanalyse divers nutriments des feuilles de Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamus spp. J Am Bamboo Soc 10:27

    Google Scholar 

  • Purohit GR (1987) Nutritive value of some plants of arid zone of Rajasthan. J Anim Sci 1:83–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralhan PK, Singh Surendra P (1987) Dynamics of nutrients and leaf mass in central Himalayan forest trees and shrubs. Ecology 68(10–12):1974–1983

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saha RC, Singh RB, Saha RN, Chaudhary AB (1997) Feed resources and the milk production in eastern region. National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, pp 1–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahoo A, Ogra RK, Sood A, Ahuja PS (2009) Chemical composition and nutritive value of leaves from different Bamboo cultivars. Indian J Anim Nutr 26(4):306–314

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sahoo A, Ogra RK, Sood A, Ahuja PS (2010) Nutritional evaluation of bamboo cultivars in sub-Himalayan region of India by chemical composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation. Grassl Sci 56(2):116–125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santis G, De Lannucci A, Dantone D, Chiaravalle E (2004) Changes during growth in the nutritive value of components of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrium L.) under different cutting treatments in Mediterranean region. Grass Forage Sci 59(4):378–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selvan T (1995) Collection and screening of Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Neeset Arn ex Murno Germplasm. M. Sc. Thesis, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, p 135

  • Sen KC (1978) Nutritive value of indian cattle feeds and feeding of farm animals, 7th edn. ICAR, New Delhi, pp 1–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma DD (1968) Chemical composition of bamboo leaves. Agra Univ J Res 5:253–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma DD, Gill RS, Chander S, Negi SS (1986) Chemical composition of some tree leaves in Kangra district. J Res 3:438–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RV (1982) Fodder trees of India. Oxford and IBH, New Delhi, p 663

    Google Scholar 

  • Soest V (1994) Nutritional ecology of ruminants. J Dairy Sci 74:3583–3597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorne PJ, Subba DB, Walker DH, Thapa B, Wood CD, Sinclair FI (1999) The basis of indigenous knowledge of tree fodder quality and its implications for improving the use of tree fodder in developing countries. Anim Feed Sci Technol 81:119–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tinworth TRH, Barry TN, Wilson PR (1999) The effect of wilting chicory on its voluntary intake and digestion by red deer. J Agric Sci 133(2):217–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tolsma DJ, Ernst WHO, Verweij RA, Voojis R (1987) Seasonal variation on nutrient concentration in a semi-arid savannah ecosystem in Botswana. J Ecol 75(3):755–770

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verma KS, Mishra VK (1999) Foliage nutrient concentration and lopping time of agroforestry tree species in the western Himalayan region of India. Agrofor Syst 42(3):283–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verma KS, Mishra VK, Sharma SK, Nautiyal RK (1992) Nutrient dynamics in Celtis australis leaves. Adv Hortic For 2:194–199

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to anonymous reviewers for their critical comments and suggestions that helped in the improvement of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, 173 230, India

    D. R. Bhardwaj, P. Sharma, R. Bishist & M. R. Navale

  2. ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

    R. Kaushal

Authors
  1. D. R. Bhardwaj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Bishist
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. R. Navale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Kaushal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. R. Bhardwaj.

Additional information

Project funding: This study is supported by project from Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, 173 230, India.

The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Corresponding editor: Zhu Hong.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 39 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bhardwaj, D.R., Sharma, P., Bishist, R. et al. Nutritive value of introduced bamboo species in the northwestern Himalayas, India. J. For. Res. 30, 2051–2060 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0750-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0750-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation