Proximate and mineral composition of plantain (Musa Paradisiaca) wastes flour; a potential nutrients source in the formulation of animal feeds

Abstract

Plantain fruit constitute an important source of energy as a staple diet in the tropics. The peel of the fruit is discarded as waste after the edible portion is eaten; thereby constituting a menace to the environment, especially where its consumption is common, while the bracts, fruit stalk and leaf are left on the farm as wastes. These waste materials have been considered for use as organic fertilizer in some countries. This study was carried out to determine the proximate and mineral composition of plantain (Musa paradisiaca) wastes flour as possible sources of nutrients in formulating animal feeds. The proximate and mineral composition of plantain wastes (bract, ripe peel, fruit stalk and leaf) were determined using standard methods of analyses of AOAC and atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The wastes contained between 9.39 and 9.53g moisture, 1.87 and 19.37g crude protein, 0.73 and 1.83g crude fat, 8.10 and 15.50g crude fibre, and 54.00 and 68.00g carbohydrate / 100gsample. Plantain bract is very rich in iron (10.50 – 14.00 mg), calcium (120.00 – 150.00mg) and phosphorus (110.00 – 180.00mg)/100g sample. The plantain wastes can be sources of nutrients in animal feed preparation, as they are high in protein, fibre and essential mineral content. This will result in dual benefits of its use as animal feeds and proper plantain wastes management (waste reduction) strategy, as the wastes would have constitute nuisance to the environment.