Carbohydrate fractionation and nitrogen compounds, mineral status, and gas production in arboreal cotton and cactus silages

[Fracionamento de carboidratos e compostos nitrogenados, status mineral e produção de gases em silagens de algodão arbóreo e palma forrageira]

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fractionation of carbohydrates and nitrogen compounds, mineral status, and in vitro gas production of arboreal cotton silages combined with different cactus levels (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600g.kg^-1 on dry matter basis), distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 4 replicates. For carbohydrate fractionation, there was an increase in fraction B2, and a decrease in fraction C (P<0.05). In nitrogen compounds, there was a decrease in B3 and C fractions (P<0.05). A quadratic effect was observed on mineral matter, crude protein, nitrogen, potassium and latency phase (P<0.05). Under the experimental conditions, the use of cactus in arboreal cotton silages increases the levels of minerals, carbohydrates and gas production in the silage, however, it reduces the protein content in the silages when cactus levels above 150 g.kg are inserted in arboreal cotton silages.

Keywords:
forage conservation; Gossypium hirsutum L; Opuntia stricta [Haw.] Haw; tropical forages