This work aimed to estimate the carbohydrate fractions in three sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars in the presence or absence of irrigation, using the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) equations. The utilization of a fibrous preparation called cell wall (CW) in the CNCPS equations instead of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) showed no differences in the B1 and C fractions; however, there were differences in the A and B2 fractions. Because estimates of B1 fraction were lower than wet chemistry determinations of starch and pectin, it was assumed that pectin and other oligosaccharides, that are dissolved by the neutral detergent (soluble fiber), were part of fraction A, but not part of fraction B1. In spite the soluble fiber carbohydrates have high degradation rates, characterization of soluble fiber within fraction A seems inadequate. It seems coherent that soluble fiber (which includes pectin) be allocated exclusively to a fraction which could be fraction B2. In addition, a new fraction (B3) should be created for the digestible cell wall carbohydrates. Thus, the fraction B1 would be constituted only by starch. It was verified that the equation for the fraction C, which estimates the indigestible cell wall carbohydrates, could be simplified, expressing lignin on a dry matter basis, instead of ash + protein-free NDF as it is used currently. This finding has a practical implication, because it has been recommended that the indigestible cell wall be related to NDF, and not to DM, on the basis that the inhibitory effects of lignin occur on the plant cell wall fibrous carbohydrates and not on the cell content.
lignin; pectin; soluble fiber; starch
