Straw samples of 14 hybrid rice and their parents grown under identical crop husbandry and field conditions were dried, ground and chemically analysed before and after incubation in nylon bag for 72 hours in the rumen of three rumen fistulated male cattle. Hybrid involving low x low quality parents like UPHR-888, UPHR- 902, UPHR-913 yielded straw of significantly (P<0.05) higher nylon bag dry matter (NBDMD) and organic matter digestibility (NBOMD). Similarly, hybrids produced by crossing parents with high quality straw resulted in hybrid straw with lower NBDMD and acid detergent fibre digestibility (NBADFD). Initial pH of straw was positively (P<0.01) correlated with (NBDMD) (0.670), NBOMD (0.578) and NBADFD (0.572). However, pH recorded at 6 hr after initial pH was negatively (P<0.05) correlated with OM (−0.318) and HC (−0.341) content while it (pH of straw) was positively (P<0.05) correlated with ash (0.317) and AIA (0.314) contents.
Rice straw, Genetic variation, Nutritive value, pH
