Abstract
Chemical compositions during different growing periods, preference and in vitro digestibility at the post-fruiting period of five psammophyte shrubs, which include Caragana intermedia, Caragana korshinskii, Hedysarum scoparium, Hedysarum laeve, Salix psammophylla were determined. The nutritive values were synthetically evaluated in terms of chemical composition, preference and in vitro digestibility through fuzzy multifactorial model. The crude protein (CP) concentrations of the five shrubs had the tendency to decrease with growing stage, the peak values of C. intermedia, C. korshinskii and S. psammophylla appeared at blooming period and those of H. scoparium and H. laeve appeared at vegetative period. The neutral-detergent fiber (NDF), acid-detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin concentrations of C. intermedia, C. korshinskii and S. psammophylla were all decreased before post-fruiting period and then increased significantly; while the variation tendency of those of H. scoparium and H. leave were alike, and the lowest NDF, ADF and lignin concentrations were at vegetative period or post-fruiting period. The five shrubs can be used as feedstuffs, the synthetical nutritive value at the post-fruiting period were high in order of C. intermedia, H. scoparium, H. laeve, C. korshinskii and S. psammophylla. Considering the characteristics of growth and nutritive value, the optimum time to use these shrubs as feedstuffs is the post-fruiting period in autumn. Among the five shrubs, C. intermedia is the best as feed-stuff for raising the production of livestock.
Highlights
The Mu Us sandy land, an ecotone comprised of steppe, desert-steppe and steppe-desert, is located in the Ordos plateau, covers an area of approximately 40000 km2, and is one of the twelve well-known sandy deserts in China [1]
The objective of this paper is to determine the dynamics of nutrient content of different growth periods for several psammophyte shrubs in Mu Us sandy land, and to evaluate synthetically the nutritive value at the postfruiting period in terms of chemical composition, preference and in vitro digestibility
Evaluation System Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation refers to the overall evaluation of a thing or a phenomenon affected by multiple factors, and gives the evaluated thing or phenomenon a nonnegative evaluation value [19]
Summary
The Mu Us sandy land, an ecotone comprised of steppe, desert-steppe and steppe-desert, is located in the Ordos plateau, covers an area of approximately 40000 km, and is one of the twelve well-known sandy deserts in China [1] It is characterized by sparse precipitation, frequent drought and poor soil nutrients [2,3,4]. Psammophyte shrubs are tolerant to drought, barren ground, and wind erosion, grow rapidly and have well developed root systems These shrubs have become the dominant species by ecological restoration and play an important role in the control of land degradation and desertification, as well as in grassland construction [5]. The objective of this paper is to determine the dynamics of nutrient content of different growth periods for several psammophyte shrubs in Mu Us sandy land, and to evaluate synthetically the nutritive value at the postfruiting period in terms of chemical composition, preference and in vitro digestibility
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
