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.
