ABSTRACT

An experiment to determine the Proximate composition of cassava ensiled supplementing it with non-conventional legumes in the tropical environment was conducted. Samples includes cassava peels ensued with Gliricidia sepium, cassava peels ensued with Lcucacna leucoccphala, cassava peels ensued with cassava leaves. ihe proximate composition was Carried out at Michael Okpara University of agriculture Umnudike, Abia State. Determination of the proxirnatç composition o the fresh samples was equally obtained. Results obtained was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) in a completely randomize design (CRD) significant mean were separated by i)MRl'. 'l'he ensi led samples differed ignificantly in their chemical properties (P>O.05) together with fresh samples. 1-lowever, silage sample did not difter significantly (P>O.05) iii their physical properties. Silage prepared from in ixt mires of cassava ensued with C liricidia scpiumn has the highest crude protci ii (27.2%). lii the other way round, silage Prepared l'rom ensued cassava 1)CcIS alone has the lowest crude Protc1liof 6.5%. The ash content of silage samples ranges from 3.33% iii eassavu Peels emism led with I etieaciia leucocCl)hiala leaf' to l. 1 (i% iii cussava peels ensued with Cl iricidia sepiuni. lather extract was lowest in cassava l)eels ensued alone 1 . I 3% and was highest iii cassava peels ensued with cassava leaves 2.7l %. The results of' the experiment showed that all the silages prepared from cassava peels alone and the mixtures were physically the same (P>O.05%. The silages were excellently prepared judging from the p1-i range of 4.17-4.95. Again ensiling cassava peels with Lcucacna Icucocephala, cassava and Glircidia leaves had high Cp content than ensuing cassava peels alone though that of cassava peels and Gliricidia leaves appeared superior because it had the highest C1 content and a moderate CF content.