EVALUATION OF Calliandra calothyrsus PROVENANCES AS A FORAGE FOR RUMINANTS

Abstract

Forage yield and nutritive value of seven Calliandra calothvrsus provenances were tested inthe low country wet zone of Sri Lanka. Dry mailer yield (DMY) from leaves and edibleimmature twigs (DMY kg/ha/cut) were significantly different (P<O.051 among the sevenprovenances tested. Madium (147/91) had the highest DMY of 29.600 kg/cut followed byGcorgisrvillc (48/92) and Union Jaurez (50/92) kg/cut for each provenance. La Pucrtai IOYN4) had the lowest DMY (14.tWO kg/cut). The average dry mailer content 01" sevenprovenances were different (P«U)5) and ranged from 32.47'k (Union Jaurcz) to 36.33'/t (LaPucria I Crude protein contents (CP) ranged from 17'k (La Pucrata) to 21.36'jf (UnionJaurcz). with an average of 19.98'k for all provenances. NDF. ADF and ADL contentsranged [rom 37.2S£k to 43.04(k. 29.32'k to 35.14'k and 12.65lk. to 17.13'k. respectivelywhile leaf: stem ratio ranged from 0.89 to 1.47. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) was fairlylow with an average of 36.33'k. ranging from the highest (42.85'k) for La Puerta and thelowest (31.0'/f j for Union Jaurcz. Crude protein and digestible dry mailer yields wererelated positively to DMY (r~ = 0.89). Considering the most important yield and qualitycriteria. the best provenance was Madium followed by Gcorgisville and Union Jaurez.However. the high DMY and relatively high CP content of all the tested provenancesindicate the potential of C. calothvrsus as a forage supplement in ruminant rations. In ordertu obtain maximum yield and nutritive value. further studies on agronomic and nutritiveevaluations are required.