Abstract
Four grasses (coastal: Aeluropus lagopoides & Sporobolus tremulus, and inland: Paspalum paspalodes and Paspalidium geminatum) were evaluated for biomass production, mineral composition and forage quality under optimal non-saline conditions. Vegetative shoots were collected from natural populations and allowed to grow under ambient environmental conditions for about six weeks. Forage quality parameters included neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), dry matter digestibility (DMD), and metabolizable energy (ME). Coastal species had higher ADF and crude protein values in comparison with inland species whereas, DMD were highest in Paspalum paspalodes followed by Sporobolus tremulus, Paspalidium geminatum and Aeluropus lagopoides. Estimated metabolizable energy (ME) was highest in Paspalum paspalodes with similar values in other test species. Sporobolus tremulus had the highest sulphur (1.42%) while the other three species had considerably lower values (<= 0.45) which are within acceptable fodder limits for ruminants. Inland grasses (particularly Paspalum paspalodes) appeared to be better forage species producing higher biomass, DMD, ME and crude protein and low ADF and S than the coastal ones. However, with careful rationing all test species could be used as supplementary fodder for livestock.