Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
as urea, ammonia and calcium hydroxide and oxidizing agents such as potassium
dichromate. Addition of exogenous enzymes is also a method to improve the nutri-
tive value of tree leaves. The study of Salem et al. (
2012
) showed that there are ben-
eficial impacts of sun-drying and/or dietary exogenous enzyme addition for sheep
fed
A. halimus
.
Despite the limited nutritional values, the use of
Atriplex
species as an important
component of the diet should be considered in arid and semi-arid regions since
this plant produces 2.5-20 t of dry matter per hectare per year and it is available
most of the year. Given the low nutritional value of the
Atriplex
species, various
authors have proposed supplementing them with other types of feed like barley
grain, barly straw or spineless cactus so that the animals could obtain the energy
from the hay and grain, and the protein and minerals from
Atriplex
species. Abu-
Zanat (
2005
) reported that grazing a combination of salt-tolerant grasses, legumes
and
Atriplex
species improved feeding value and maximize animal production (feed
intake and growth rates) from saline land. Norman et al. (
2008
) reported that 170 g/
day of grain was the minimum required to ensure sheep fed
A. nummularia
and
A.
amnicola
maintained live weight. In the study of Ben Salem et al. (
2005
) lambs
fed
A. nummularia
and supplemented with barley achieved a growth rate of 67 g/
day over an 85-day period. Data presented by van der Baan et al. (
2004
) clearly
demonstrate that supplementation with grains such as barley or maize significantly
increases the digestibility of
A. nummularia
and this leads to an increase in growth
rate of ruminant. Mixing alfalfa with
Atriplex
as green fodders to sheep may in-
crease the palatability and consequently intake and utilization of
Atriplex
which
lead to improvement of the performance of animal. Abu-Zanat (
2005
) reported that
it is possible to replace up to 50 % of alfalfa hay by
A. nummularia
without negative
effects on intake and digestibility of dry matter by Awassi lambs. Jacobs and Smith
(
1977
) reported significant differences in chemical composition between (
Atriplex
nummularia, A. Canescens, A. Brewerii
and
A. Lentiformis
) species and between
seasons. Kandil and El-Shaer (
1989
) reported that
Atriplex nummularia
had higher
nutritive value in spring and winter than in summer and autumn. Riasi et al. (
2008
)
reported that
A. dimorphostegia
have more number of beneficial chemical nutritive
components and digestible values than
Suaeda arcuata
as forage for ruminants.
Farmers in some arid areas of the world have already begun to cultivate
Atriplex
as
a salt-tolerant forage crop on lands where other crops are difficult to grow.
Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Some
Atriplex
Species
Several salt marsh plants have traditionally been used for medical, nutritional, and
even artisanal purposes. Currently, an increasing interest is granted to these species
because of their high content in bioactive compounds (Ksouri et al.
2011
). Various
Atriplex
species have medicinal values, e.g.
A. semibaccata
has been used as an
antifungal agent and
A. vestita
in the traitement of bronchitis.
A. hortensis
has been
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