Accumulation of Oxalate and Nitrate in Hybrid Napier Var.CO-3(Pennisetum Perpureum X P. americarnum) and Wild Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum)

Abstract

Abstract Excess amounts of soluble oxalate and nitrate cause poisonous effects on ruminants, fed mainly on forages. Oxalate and nitrate accumulation in forages depend on many factors such as soil, climate, agronomy and plant factors. A field experiment was conducted as a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) in 4 factor factorial treatment arrangement with three replicates to evaluate the effect of location (Animal experimental farm Gannoruwa, Artificial Insemination Centre, Kundasale), species (hybrid Napier variety CO-3, wild Guinea grass), plant parts (stem, leaf) and growth stages (2, 4 and 6 weeks) on nitrate and soluble oxalate accumulation. There was a four way interaction among the factors in nitrate accumulation (p<0.05). Higher nitrate contents were observed in stems compared to the leaves and declined with maturity in hybrid Napier variety CO-3. A similar trend was observed in wild Guinea grass with a location effect. Three way interactions of location × species × plant part and species × plant part × growth stage were significant (p<0.05) on oxalate accumulation. In wild Guinea grass, soluble oxalate concentration of leaves were higher than stems and declined in both parts with maturity while similar trend was followed by hybrid Napier variety CO-3. Thus, it can be concluded that nitrate and soluble oxalate accumulation in forages depend on plant factors like species, plant parts and maturity.