*Deptt. of Animal Nutrition, CCS, HAU, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana)
Department of Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263 145, (U.P.), India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Five plots (3x3 m) of paddy var. Pant Dhan-4 were harvested at each of six stages of grain maturity (grain moisture levels of 40, 35, 30, 25, 20 and 15%) to assess the nutritive value of straw and its fitness for ammonia (wrea) treatment. The straw available at each stage was divided into two lots, the first lot was oven dried while thesecond one was sun dried to reduce its moisture content below45% followed by ammonlation using urea (5%, 50% moisture and 4 weeks). The nutritional quality of straw, measured on the basis of its CP, cell wall contents and in sacco DM degradability, declined significantly after 25% grain moisture stage. The sun drying of straw had no effect on the quality of straw. The high plant moisture in case of sun dried straw did not affect efficiency of ammonia (urea) treatment. The quality of straw was significantly improved as a result of ammonia (urea) treatment, irrespective of the stage of harvest and the moisture content of straw at the time of treatment. It is concluded thatammonia (urea) treatment can be practised even in areas where harvested straw is still green.
