Evaluation of Growth, Yield, Nutritive Value and Antibacterial Activity of Clitoria ternatea Forage

Abstract

This study included three trials on Clitoria ternatea; namely: foddertrial, feeding trial and antibacterial activity trial. First trial (fodder trial): This trial was conducted at the demonstration farm, College of the Agricultural Studies (Shambat), Sudan University of Science and Technology, during the period: 25/11/2018- 30/06/2019; to evaluate growth, yield and chemical composition of Clitoria ternatea forage as affected by poultry manure and eggshell fertilizers. The trial was carried out in randomized complete block design of four treatments and five replicates. The treatments consisted of: T1: no soil fertilizer used, T2: 5000kg/ha poultry manure, T3: 4600 kg/ha poultry manure+ 400kg /ha eggshell, and T4: 4200 kg/ha poultry manure +800kg/ha, eggshell. Plant height (cm), stem diameter(cm), number of leaves per plant, leaf/ stem ratio, fresh and dry yield (tons/ha) were measured.Samples of C. ternatea (leaves and stems) were taken over three harvests to analyze of chemical composition by using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). The results showed that the poultry manure with eggshell at 4200 kg/ha poultry manure +800kg/ha eggshellwas more effective in increasing plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, leaf/ stem ratioand shoot yield of C. ternatea, than control and poultry manure alone. While the above mentioned fertilizers had a little effect on leaves and stems chemical composition. Second trial (feeding trial):The study was conducted at research farm, KUKU Campus, Sudan University of Science and Technology; during the period 16/10/2019- 2/1/2020; to evaluate the effect of feeding C. ternateahay versus alfalfa hay on growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality of growing lambs. Twenty four (24) lambs (male) of Sudanese desert sheep were used, with average weight 18.82 kg and 4 months old. All lambs were treated with the necessary medication, ear tagged, weighed and divided randomly intofour groups (six lambs of each group). The feed was provided adlibitum in the form of total diet; withhay: concentrate ratio of 40:60.Group(A), hay composed of 100% clitoriahay; group (B), hay composed of50% clitoriahay+50% alfalfa hay; group (C), hay composed of 75% clitoriahay+25% alfalfa hay. While for group (D)hay composed of 100% alfalfa hay. The total length of trial period was 77 days (14 days adaptation period and the 63 day for data collection). The results showed that the daily dry matter intake was (1.06±0.10), (1.10±0.15), (1.12±0.06) and (1.08±0.08) kg for groups A, B, C and D, respectively; and the difference was not significant. Daily weight gain was highest for group B (236.1±12.20 g) and lowest for group D (177.5±6.54 g), and the difference was highly significant (P≤0.01). Also FCR was best for group B (4.70±0.60) and lower for group D (6.10±0.49) (DM intake (kg) ÷ weight gain (kg), and the difference was highly significant (P≤0.01). The carcass yield was highest in group B (p≤0.01); while the highest dressing percentage was recorded by group A.Meat chemical composition had no significant differences between groups. Third trial (antibacterial activity trial): This trial was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of methanol extracts of C. ternatea leaves against gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactia)and gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi).The antibacterial activity was evaluated according to the agar well diffusion and disc diffusion methods. The results showed a highly significant difference at (p≤0.01) between different tested bacteria in zones of inhibition by agar well diffusion method.Thehighest range of inhibition zone was recorded by Staphylococcus (2.63±0.78cm) and the lowest was recorded by Salmonella typhi (1.27±0.25cm).The result showed that the disc method had a highly significant difference at (p≤0.01), between different tested bacteria in zones of inhibition, in the first (10-1) and second (10-2) dilutions. Staphylococcus aureus recorded the highest range of inhibition zones (0.90± 0.1cm) and (0.05±0.01cm) inthe first (10-1) and second (10-2) dilutions, respectively. While the results showed no inhibition zones for all tested bacteria inthe third and fourth dilutions