Potential Nutritional Value of the Macrophyte Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) Griff. (Poaceae) in a River Nile System, Egypt

Abstract

AQUATIC plants are of real interest for their nutritive value. The present study aimed at investigating the forage potentiality of the aquatic macrophyte Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) Griff (Poaceae). Two islands in the River Nile system in Greater Cairo, Egypt were selected for sampling the leaf laminae from V. cuspidata in eighteen quadrates (0.5x 0.5m each) during February (winter), and August (summer) of 2017. The chemical analyses revealed that there were no significant differences between the contents of summer and winter leaves in their percentages of moisture, dry matter, ash, nitrogen-free extract, neutral detergent fibers, acid detergent fibers, acid detergent lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. The leaves were characterized by a high percentage of dry matter (DM, ≈ 92%), low moisture content (7.94-7.27% DM), high crude fibers (24.1-38.2%DM), moderate crude protein (7.2=19.2%), and low lipids content (1.7-2.0% DM). The plant is rich in many important elements (K, Ca, P, Cu, and Zn). The ratio of Ca/P (= 2.43) is within the adequate range for animal forage. The other parameters of the nutritive values of the leaves and their importance to animal feeding were discussed. The leaves of V. cuspidata are recommended as good forage for beef cattle and lactating cows.