Chemical composition of some Iberian Mediterranean leguminous shrubs potentially useful for forage in seasonally dry areas

摘要

The chemical composition of herbage produced by legume shrubs was determined to appraise their potential value for forage. Six species were assessed for seasonal variation in the proportion of leaves, and ash content, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and crude protein (CP) concentrations.Hippocrepis balearica, Medicago citrina, Medicago strasseri, andMedicago arboreashowed an average ADF content 25 and an average crude protein content 18. The chemical composition ofMedicago strasseriwas very close to that ofMedicago arboreathroughout the year. In winter and summer,Medicago citrinashowed lower ADF and ADL content thanMedicago arborea. Therefore,Medicago citrinacould be useful as a summer or a winter forage.Hippocrepis balearicashowed higher crude protein content in summer and lower ADF content in winter thanMedicago arborea, but significantly higher ADL contents (9.7 to 12.5 versus 7.1 to 9.4). Therefore,Hippocrepis balearicacould be a good option as a winter and summer forage, although further studies are necessary to elucidate the possible detrimental effect of lignin in forage digestibility.Coronilla junceaandCytisus arboreusshowed an average ADF content 30 and an average crude protein content 15.Coronilla junceashowed good chemical composition in winter (28.7 ADF, 9.0 ADL, and 12.6 crude protein) making this species potentially useful as a winter forage.