Chemical composition of elephant grass silage with different proportions of dried passion fruit peel (<i>Passiflora edulis</i> Sims f. <i>flavicarpa</i>)

Abstract

The chemical composition of elephant grass silages containing different inclusion levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%) of dried passion fruit peel - CMD - in elephant grass natural material, was evaluated in a completely randomized design with eight replications. The grass was cut at 60 days old, crushed and ensiled together with CMD proportions of each treatment. Silos were opened 30 days after. It was observed that CMD inclusion linearly increased dry matter levels (23.2 and 41.8 for treatments 0 and 30% respectively), improving silage fermentation, as well as crude protein levels (5.4, 8.5, 10.2 and 11.9) and nonfiber carbohydrates (P < 0.005). Neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose and cellulose levels deceased, indicating that dried passion fruit peel can be used in up to 30% of inclusion in elephant grass silage.