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MEKARN Conference 2010 |
A study was made of ensiling the foliages (leaves + petioles) of Tithonia diversifolia and Taro (Colocacia esculenta) with or without molasses. There were 6 treatments arranged according to a 3*2 factorial design with 3 replicates per treatment. The factors were: three ratios of Tithonia with Taro; and addition or not of “A” molasses. Individual treatments were:
25TD: 25% Tithonia + 75% Taro (DM basis)
50TD: 50% Tithonia + 50% Taro (DM basis)
75TD: 75% Tithonia + 25% Taro (DM basis)
25TDM: 25% Tithonia + 75% Taro (DM basis )+ 5% molasses (DM basis)
50TDM: 50% Tithonia + 50% Taro (DM basis) + 5% molasses (DM basis)
75TDM: 75% Tithonia + 25% Taro (DM basis) + 5% molasses (DM basis)
Tithonia foliage was collected from the fields. The leaves with petioles were separated from the stems and chopped into small pieces (1-2cm) with a knife. After wilting, the leaves with petioles were mixed with chopped Taro leaves + petioles according to the treatments. For the “M” treatments, “A” molasses was added to the mixed foliages at the level of 5% (DM basis). The respective mixtures were put into plastic (polyethylene) bags (about 5 kg per bag) and pressed to exclude the air. The bags fr then sealed. .Samples of the freshly processed foliages were taken on the day of ensiling and after 7, 14 and 21 days. the sanples were analyzed for DM, crude protein, ADF, NDF, organic acids, oxalate and pH.
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| Ensiling miixtures of Tithonia diversifolia and Taro with 5% molasses | Ensiling miixtures of Tithonia diversifolia and tario (no molasses) |
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| Ensiling miixtures of Tithonia diversifolia and Taro with 5% molasses | Ensiling miixtures of Tithonia diversifolia and tario (no molasses) |
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| Ensiling miixtures of Tithonia diversifolia and Taro with 5% molasse | Ensiling miixtures of Tithonia diversifolia and tario (no molasses) |