Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of five forage shrubs in Mu Us sandland, China

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.