Abstract
Paulownia is known as an economically important multipurpose tree genus due to its fast growth and short-rotation harvesting for timber. There is interest in growing Paulownia species as a woody biofuel crop. There are reports on its leaves being rich in nitrogen and double as good fodder, as well as fertilizer (green manure). Nutritional properties of Paulownia elongata leaves collected at monthly intervals from Paulownia Demonstration Plot, Fort Valley State University (FVSU), Fort Valley, Georgia, USA, from April to November, 2011, were studied. The leaves were dried and analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), fat, gross energy, and ash content. The CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, fat and ash content ranged from 14% - 23%, 29% - 55%, 18% - 42%, 10% - 22%, 2% - 4%, and 6% - 9%, respectively, indicating that Paulownia leaves have potential as a feed resource for livestock. Forage potential research was followed up by developing protocols to manufacture feed pellets with 75% and 95% leaf component and assessing their physical properties. There is an economic market potential for the by-products of Paulownia, which is usually grown for timber.
Highlights
36 percent of all calories produced annually are fed to animals [1] and the US, Brazil, and China lead the world in producing animal feed
The crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), fat and ash content ranged from 14% - 23%, 29% - 55%, 18% - 42%, 10% - 22%, 2% - 4%, and 6% - 9%, respectively, indicating that Paulownia leaves have potential as a feed resource for livestock
Paulownia trees showed a steady increase in diameter at breast height (DBH) with respect to overall tree height over a three-year period in the timber plot (Figure 2(A))
Summary
36 percent of all calories produced annually are fed to animals [1] and the US, Brazil, and China lead the world in producing animal feed. It is imperative that alternate non-food plant resources are identified to assist the animal feed industry. Low quality and inadequate quantity of feeds are a major con-. Fodder trees that may be used on smallholder farms have a number of advantages as a source of fodder. Fodder trees are not susceptible to sudden climatic changes and produce fodder even during dry periods. Importance of trees, shrubs and herbs as a fodder source has been suggested due to their nutrition capacity (compared to grasses, fodder trees, shrubs and herbs have relatively higher concentrations of crude protein, minerals, and neutral detergent fiber) for browsing and grazing animals in areas of poor quality pastures for longer periods of time during the year [2]
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