Evaluation of shrubs and tree leaves for carbohydrate and nitrogen fractions

Abstract

Chemical constituents as well as different fractions of protein and carbohydrate of mature leaves and twigs from 9 browse trees and 12 shrubs were estimated. Soluble protein as% of CP among ditrerent tree and shrubs species varied from 57.46 to 86.27% and 61.97 to 90.30% respectively. Lowest NPN% of soluble protein was observed in Ziziphus xylopyrus (12.14%) arid the highest value was (78.00%) in Acacia leucophloea. Both NDIP and ADIP content were comparable in tree leaves and shrubs. The lower value of protein fraction A.C and higher value of B1, B2 and B3 was observed in Ficus religiosa, Leucaena leucocephala and Holoptelia integrifolia. which are the indication of their superior protein sources. The shrubs like Acacia catechu, Securinega virosa, Dichrostachys cinerea provide higher quantity of superior quality B protein fractions. The less quantity of unavailable cell wall i.e. carbohydrate fraction C present in tree species like Hardwickia binata (12.39%), Dalbergia sissoo (25.91 %) and Holoptelia integrifolia (27.50%) and shrubs. Securinega virosa (13.46%) showed their superior quality as carbohydrate sources.