Monthly variation in the Nutritional and Antinutritional composition of Morus alba leaves

Abstract

Morus alba is a multipurpose fodder tree recognized for its nutrient-rich foliage and its role in addressing green fodder deficits in livestock systems. The present study assessed the monthly variation in the nutritional, mineral, and anti-nutritional composition of M. alba leaves sampled at monthly intervals from March to October 2016 under a mulberry-based agroforestry system in the mid-hill region of the North Western Himalayas. Leaf samples from fifteen randomly selected trees were analysed for proximate composition, fibre fractions (NDF, ADF, hemicellulose), minerals (Ca and P), and phenolic constituents (total phenols, condensed tannins, hydrolysable tannins) following standard analytical procedures. The results of the study reported that with advancing leaf maturity, crude protein (18.75-15.14%), nitrogen-free extract (50.45-43.09%), organic matter (87.75-85.34%), and phosphorus (0.35-0.21%) declined significantly (p < 0.05), whereas dry matter (25.54-33.50%), crude fibre (18.69-25.81%), total ash (10.25-13.33%), calcium (1.18-2.74%), and condensed tannins (0.94-1.98%) increased progressively. These findings indicate that early maturing M. alba leaves harvested during March to April possess superior nutritive quality and lower anti-nutritional burden, and therefore represent the optimal harvest stage for maximizing forage value in livestock feeding systems in the North-Western Himalayan agroforestry landscapes.