Provenance and seasonal variations in proximate and cell wall composition of Melia dubia leaf fodder from Satpura and Sahyadri mountain ranges, India.

We analyzed Melia dubia leaf fodder proximate and cell wall composition to ascertain provenance and seasonal variations in Satpura and northern tip of Western Ghats (or Sahyadri) ranges falling in Gujarat, India. The study revealed significant variation (P ≤ 0.05) in proximate [moisture content (MC), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), organic matter (OM), total ash (TA), acid insoluble ash (AIA) and nitrogen free extract (NFE)] and cell wall attributes [neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), hemicellulose and cellulose content] among eight provenances in the winter and summer seasons. The MC, DM, CP, CF, EE, OM, TA and NFE ranged from 68.6–72.2%; 27.8–31.5%, 10.2–12.1%, 16.3–18.7%, 2.5–3.3%, 85.4–88.7%, 11.3–14.6% and 55.0–58.4%, respectively among eight provenances. DM, CP, CF, EE and OM (29.7%, 12.0%, 18.6%, 3.3% and 87.6%, respectively) were significantly higher in the summer. In contrast, MC, TA, AIA and NFE (70.9%, 13.6%, 1.0% and 58.4%, respectively) were significantly higher in the winter season. NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose content ranged from 32.2–38.5%, 23.8–30.2%, 11.8–20.8%, 6.9–9.7% and 9.3–12.3%, respectively among provenances. Further, M. dubia leaf cell wall composition varied significantly between winter and summer seasons. NDF, ADF, ADL and hemicellulose (36.2%, 27.6%, 16.9% and 8.7%, respectively) were higher during the summer season (S₂); conversely, the cellulose content was higher (11.2%) in the winter season. Keeping in view the average proximate and fiber composition levels, M. dubia leaf fodder falls within the energy-rich fodder stuff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]