Nutritional, mineral, and antinutritional components of five cultivars of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach)

This study aims to evaluate the nutrient content, digestibility, mineral composition, and anti-nutritional compounds in five cultivars of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) in Indonesia. The study utilized five Napier grass cultivars: ‘Gama Umami’, ‘Pakchong’, ‘Mott’, ‘Purple’, and ‘Local’. A total of 20 replicates per cultivar were planted using a randomized group design. Harvesting was conducted 70 days after planting, and the measured parameters included morphological characteristics, production, nutrient content, fiber components, in vitro digestibility, mineral content, and anti-nutrient content. Morphological measurements exhibited significant differences (P < 0.05) for nearly all variables among the cultivars. The ‘Gama Umami’ cultivar showed significantly higher fresh production, leaf production, and leaf-to-stem ratio (P < 0.05). At the same time, nutrient and chlorophyll contents varied significantly (P < 0.05) across cultivars. In terms of fiber composition, significant differences (P < 0.05) were found for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). However, lignin content did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) among the cultivars. Likewise, both in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) varied significantly among the cultivars (P < 0.05). The mineral composition and anti-nutrient levels of each cultivar also showed significant differences (P < 0.05), with each cultivar exhibiting distinct characteristics and advantages. Overall, the study's results emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate Napier grass cultivars to optimize forage nutritional quality, enhance livestock productivity, and promote sustainability in tropical farming systems.