ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to identify the grass species in Umudike, to isolate the grass forages from the grasses found and to determine the monthly mineral and proximate compositions of the 10 most abundant forage grasses found. Forty sample sites in an undisturbed area were randomly selected with the aid of a 1m x Im quadrant. 38 forage grasses were isolated from the 53 grass species identified in the survey. Based on relative abundance, Adroogon Icc(erun, Axonopus compressus, Acrecerus zizzanoidis, cynodon niemfuensis, Digileria horizonialis, paspalum conjugatum, P. orbiculary, Panicuin inaxiniwn, P. iarxu/n, and pcnniselzlln purperuin were selected and analyzed monthly (i.e from February- June) as the 10 most abundant forage grasses. The CP content of the analyzed forage grasses ranged from 6. 16% (E'ynodon nleinfiiensis) in April to 12.71% (Acrecerus zizanoidis) in February. It was observed that CP values decreased with months with February having the highest range of values (.77%-12.71% ± 0.32%) and June the least range of values (6.16%-11.94% ± 0.2% ). The EE range values of 6.28% ± 0.20%-10.72% ±0.18 was observed in February and June respectively (P <0.05). The highest average ADF and NDF values of 50.14% and 65.30% wet both obtained in June. The ash content was highest in the last two months of the study (May and June) (10.81% and 10.84% respectively). The range of mineral obtained were calcium 2.16 (March) to 6.25% (June), Phosphorous 1.61% (June) to 4.75% (February), Sodium 1.03% (June) to 2.74% (March) and Magnesium 1.34% (May) to 3.83% (February). It is recommended that due to the rate of declined of minerals with months in grass forages at Umudike, they should be fed when young between February and March or harvested and prepared as hay while mature grass forages should be supplemented in order to sustain growth and productivity. Also further nutritional investigation should be carried out for the remaining seven (7) months of the year (from July to January) as this would help develop a full (one) year nutrient data report for the forage grasses of umudike, southeast of Nigeria.