Effect of Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, Hydrogen Peroxide and Steam Pressure Combination Treatments of Bagasse on In Vitro And In Sacco Dry Matter Digestibilities

Sugarcane (Saccharum afficinarum) bagasse was subjected to combination of various treatments viz. T₁: NaOH (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%) and urea (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%), X,: NaOH (0, 1, 2 and 3%) and steam pressure (15 and 30 lb/inch¹; 5 and 15 min and T₃: alkaline hydrogen peroxide (0 and 1.0%) and steam pressure (15 and 30 lb/inch²; 5 and 15 min) maintaining the moisture content at 60–65%. At maximum urea level, CP increased from 3.01 to 15.2% however on treatment with NaOH the N loss was reduced and maximum CP was 16.87%. The effect of NaOH addition into urea treated bagasse on ISDMD was more pronounced (4.74 to 23.52 units) than addition of NaOH to urea treated bagasse (1.67 to 5.98 units). IVDMD values were lower than ISDMD i.e. 26.02 vs 34.86 (control), 53.36 vs 62.32 (NaOH), 45.29 vs 49.74 (urea), and 58.43 vs 68.10 (NaOH + urea). In T₂, the improvements in ISDMD and IVDMD of NaOH treated bagasse were 6 to 8 units, and 7 to 10 units at 15 and 30 lb/inch² steam pressure for 5 and 15 min durations. In T₃, steam pressure treatment of alkaline H₂O₂ treated bagasse improved ISDMD by 6 to 8 units at 15 lb/inch², and 7 to 10 units at 30 lb/inch² steam pressures. The IVDMD studies indicated better improvements ranging between 12 and 14 units. 30 lb/inch² steam pressure for 5 min had been significantly efficient in bringing the desired improvements.