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Effects of season, variety and botanical fractions on oxalate content of napiergrass ( Pennisetum purpureum Schumach)
Author(s) -
Rahman M. M.,
Niimi M.,
Ishii Y.,
Kawamura O.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
grassland science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.388
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1744-697X
pISSN - 1744-6961
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-697x.2006.00063.x
Subject(s) - pennisetum purpureum , oxalate , biology , zoology , agronomy , calcium oxalate , horticulture , botany , chemistry , dry matter , organic chemistry
Various tropical grasses sometimes contain oxalate in sufficient concentration as to induce calcium deficiency in grazing animals. Napiergrass ( Pennisetum purpureum ), a useful tropical grass for ruminants was examined for oxalate levels with regard to season, variety and botanical fractions. It was observed that oxalate content was significantly ( P < 0.001) affected by the season with the highest value (3.77%) being associated with early summer samples and the lowest value (1.76%) with late autumn samples. Compared to a normal, non‐dwarf variety, a dwarf variety exhibited a higher oxalate content but the difference was not statistically significant. With regard to the botanical fractions, oxalate content was significantly ( P < 0.05) higher (2.78%) in leaf tissues compared to stem with leaf sheath (2.05%). In another experiment, a late, dwarf variety was re‐grown four times to evaluate re‐growth period effects on oxalate content during the early summer. Oxalate content increased gradually from the re‐growth period 1 (6 June to 28 June) to re‐growth period 3 (21 June to 12 July), and declined in re‐growth period 4 (28 June to 19 July). Results suggest that when napiergrass is grown in early summer, it could achieve oxalate levels that are toxic to ruminants.