Nguyen Xuan Ba et al., 2003. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 15 (6)

This investigation was aimed at evaluating foliage production and nutritive value of Muntingia calabuara,  Hibiscus rosa sinensis L, Mulberry (Morus alba) and Trichanthera gigantea based on chemical composition, rumen degradability and gas production. The trees were planted from stem cuttings at spacing of  0.2*0.5m for Mulberry and Trichanthera,  0.2*1.0m for Hibiscus and 1*1 for  Muntingia calabuara, which was planted from seedlings. The plot size was 25m² for each of the trees. The fresh biomass production  (average of the first 3 harvests at 10 week intervals) was 13.7, 8.1, 8.9 and 19.6 tonnes/ha for Hibiscus rosa sinensis L, two local varieties of Morus alba and Trichanthera gigantea, respectively. Muntingia calabuara  did not re-grow after the first harvest.   Rumen degradability of dry matter as well as gas production was higher in leaves and foliage of Morus alba and Hibiscus rosa sinensis L. than the others. Dry matter loss (in sacco) at 48h or gas production at 48h were better predictors of nutritive value than the coefficients of the fitted curve [P = a + b (1 - e -ct)].  In general, Morus alba, Hibiscus rosa sinensis L and Trichanthera gigantea trees seem to be promising fodder species especially in the dry season in central Vietnam.