The Effect of Plant Age on Nutrient Composition of Quercus Semecarpifolia Collected From District Mandi of Himachal Pradesh India

Abstract

Quercus semecarpifolia leaves were collected from district Mandi in June, 2017 for assessment of nutritive composition. For analyses of fodder quality leaves were collected from different aged (mature, middle and juvenile) trees based on diameter at breast height (DBH at 1.3 m). The DBH of studied mature trees was more than 40 cm and for middle aged trees it varied from 20 -40 cm and for juvenile trees it was less than 20 cm. Results showed that mature plant leaves showed highest percentage of CF, CP, NDF and ADF while juvenile tree leaves showed minimum percentage of crude protein, crude fiber, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber. It was also observed that there is no such effect of plant age or plant maturity on ether extract content of leaves. So the mature leaves of Q. semecarpifolia harvested offers considerable potential as high quality forage for livestock to fulfill the deficiency of protein and nutrients.