Changes in the Chemical Composition of Sugarcane Crop Residues Treated with Different Levels of Urea and Moisture

(2013) Changes in the chemical composition of sugarcane crop residues treated with different levels of urea and moisture, Introduction mainly at its production level. Bagasse consists of hard and soft fibers. The soft fiber is called pith. At the time Crop based animal production system is one of of production in the sugar mills, bagasse contains the three primary production systems followed across approximately 50% moisture. Sugarcane tops include the world for livestock production. Under mixed growing point of the sugarcane, a few upper nodes and farming scenario, ruminant production, to a large accompanying leaves. Sugarcane tops are available in extent, is dependent on feeding practices based on crop huge quantities in India and in many other developing residues [1]. The availability of various crop residues countries. India stands second in sugarcane in our country is presently about 540 million tons per (Saccharum officinarum Linn) production in the world annum [2]. Among the various crop residues, with an annual yield of about 355 million tons [4]. sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and sugarcane tops are very Since the tops form about 15-20% of total sugarcane good staple sources of dry and green fodders, [5], about 55-60 million tons of sugarcane tops are respectively for large as well as small ruminants [3]. available every year in our country. If all the available SCB is a secondary by-product of sugar cane factories SCB and tops are effectively utilized as a source of where it is obtained after the extraction of sugarcane fodder in the diet of animals, it can largely alleviate the juice. It used in the manufacture of pressed fibrous shortage of feeds. However, both of these residues are a woods, paper pulp and also as a fuel. The yield of poor source of protein but high in fiber content [6]. bagasse depends upon the fiber content of the Moreover, raw bagasse is also not palatable and is less sugarcane, and generally represents 30-32 % of the digestible because of its high lignin and very low N yield in a sugarcane plant. Thus, there is a potential content. However, it can be a potential source of energy availability of about 79-80 million tones of SCB every for ruminants if exploited with suitable processing year. Presently, most of the bagasse is used as fuel, techniques like physical/chemical treatments [7]. To improve the nutritive value of crop residues, it is important to breakdown the linkages …


Introduction
mainly at its production level.Bagasse consists of hard and soft fibers.The soft fiber is called pith.At the time Crop based animal production system is one of of production in the sugar mills, bagasse contains the three primary production systems followed across approximately 50% moisture.Sugarcane tops include the world for livestock production.Under mixed growing point of the sugarcane, a few upper nodes and farming scenario, ruminant production, to a large accompanying leaves.Sugarcane tops are available in extent, is dependent on feeding practices based on crop huge quantities in India and in many other developing residues [1].The availability of various crop residues countries.India stands second in sugarcane in our country is presently about 540 million tons per (Saccharum officinarum Linn) production in the world annum [2].Among the various crop residues, with an annual yield of about 355 million tons [4].sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and sugarcane tops are very Since the tops form about 15-20% of total sugarcane good staple sources of dry and green fodders, [5], about 55-60 million tons of sugarcane tops are respectively for large as well as small ruminants [3].
available every year in our country.If all the available SCB is a secondary by-product of sugar cane factories SCB and tops are effectively utilized as a source of where it is obtained after the extraction of sugarcane fodder in the diet of animals, it can largely alleviate the juice.It used in the manufacture of pressed fibrous shortage of feeds.However, both of these residues are a woods, paper pulp and also as a fuel.The yield of poor source of protein but high in fiber content [6].bagasse depends upon the fiber content of the Moreover, raw bagasse is also not palatable and is less sugarcane, and generally represents 30-32 % of the digestible because of its high lignin and very low N yield in a sugarcane plant.Thus, there is a potential content.However, it can be a potential source of energy availability of about 79-80 million tones of SCB every for ruminants if exploited with suitable processing year.Presently, most of the bagasse is used as fuel, techniques like physical/chemical treatments [7].To improve the nutritive value of crop residues, it is important to breakdown the linkages among cellulose and lignin by mechanical, chemical and biological or by a combination of these treatments.Many studies sprayed on 1kg of both bagasse and tops.The treated suggested the use of ammonia and urea to increase the materials were thoroughly mixed to be homogenous crude protein content of the poor quality residues [8,9].and the moisture content was adjusted to 65%, and then Urea as a source of ammonia seems to be a promising ensiled for 2, 3 & 4 weeks.At the end of incubation alternative for chemical treatment of ligno-cellulosic period, the treated bagasse and tops were taken out to materials (straws, stovers and bagasse, etc.) to improve be aerated for 2 days to get rid of the free ammonia and their protein content to meet the rumen microbial smell.Then samples were ground and stored for later requirement and it also improves the energy chemical analysis viz.OM, CP, AIA, NDF, ADF and HC.availability due to increased digestibility of ingredients Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis was done by [10].
use of simple correlation coefficient.Therefore, the present study is undertaken to

Results and Discussion
assess the changes in chemical composition of sugarcane crop residues treated with different levels of Data presented in Tables-1 and 2 show the effect urea and moisture and for different incubation periods.
of chemical treatments on the changes in chemical composition of sugar cane bagasse (SCB) and

Materials and Methods
sugarcane tops as a result of chemical treatments with Different samples of SCB and sugarcane tops urea (3, 4 and 5 %) and moisture (40, 50 and 60 %) for were collected from the nearby sugar mills and villages different incubation periods (2, 3 and 4 weeks), and representative samples were dried in a hot air oven respectively.The chemical composition of treated SCB o at 70±1 C and ground using 2 mm sieve.Initial showed that treating with 5% urea at 40% moisture moisture content of bagasse and tops was 15%.The level for 4 weeks enhanced CP content from 2.17 to samples were analyzed for their organic matter (OM), 14.35% and hemicelluloses content from 16.22 to crude protein (CP) and acid insoluble ash (AIA) as per 24.85%.Ebrahimi et.al. [13] reported lower CP value methods of AOAC [11], fiber fractions i.e. neutral of raw SCB.Effect of different urease sources on cell detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and wall constituents of SCB treated with 2.5 % urea for hemicelluloses (HC) by the method of Van Soest et three weeks showed decreases in the value of NDF, al. [12].SCB and chopped green sugarcane tops were ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose, compared to treated with 3, 4 and 5 %of urea at 40, 50 and 60 % bagasse treated with urea alone [14].Many of scientists levels of moisture and incubated for 2, 3 and 4 weeks reported intake of feed was increased after treatment of o periods at ambient temperature (30 C) under polycrop residues [15][16][17][18].Pachauri et.al.
[19] reported packed condition for the ammonization purpose.The higher CP value of treated wheat straw than untreated required amount of urea (30, 40 and 50g) was dissolved wheat straw. in 400, 500 and 600 ml of water, respectively and CP content was increased by urea treatment

Conclusions
because urea is a good source of nitrogen.It is of interest to point out that urea treatment as a chemical SCB treated with 5% urea at 40% moisture level substances led to enrich the treated SCB and tops with for 4 weeks enhanced CP and hemicelluloses content, N, besides its chemical role on the breakdown of lingohowever sugarcane tops treated with 3% urea at 40% cellulosic bonds.Pretreatment with aqueous ammonia moisture level for 3 weeks were found to yield maximum of residues promote the removal of external fibers, improvement in terms of their chemical composition.which led to increased surface area, which may have biochemical treatments in ration for lambs [28].
Sugar statistics VII (11) 57 & 70.On the contrary, NDF and ADF content in all 5. Garg, A.K. (2005) Annual Report NATP.Animal Nutrition treatments tended to be increased as compared to

Table - 1
. Chemical composition of SCB treated with different levels of urea and moisture for different incubation periods

Table - 2
. Chemical composition of green sugarcane tops treated with different levels of urea and moisture with different incubation periods All values are average of three replications, OM: HC: hemicelluloses, AIA: acid insoluble ash (AIA) organic matter, CP: crude protein (CP), NDF: neutral detergent fibre, ADF: acid detergent fibre, ruminants.Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition.18(1): 29-36.47.11%, respectively.In another study, lower CP value 8. Abebe G, Merkel R.C., Animut G, Sahlu T and Goetsch A.L. of raw sugarcane tops was reported as compared to the (2004) Effect of ammoniation of wheat straw and present findings [29].supplementation with soybean meal or broiler litter on feed intake and digestion in yearling Spanish got wethers.Small