Agroforestry Systems

Chemical Composition and Dry Matter Degradation Characteristics of Multi-Purpose

Trees and Shrubs in the Humid Lowlands of Southeastern Nigeria
--Manuscript Draft--

Manuscript Number: AGFO1381R2
Full Title: Chemical Composition and Dry Matter Degradation Characteristics of Multi-Purpose
Trees and Shrubs in the Humid Lowlands of Southeastern Nigeria
Article Type: Original Research Articles
Keywords: Browse plants, feed quality, rumen degradation, southeastern Nigeria, ultisol
Corresponding Author: Ibisime Etela, Ph.D.
University of Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt, Rivers NIGERIA
Corresponding Author Secondary
Information:
Corresponding Author's Institution: University of Port Harcourt
Corresponding Author's Secondary
Institution:
First Author: N. J. Anyanwu, M.Sc.
First Author Secondary Information:
Order of Authors: N. J. Anyanwu, M.Sc.
Ibisime Etela, Ph.D.
Order of Authors Secondary Information:
Abstract: Twenty weeks forage re-growth from 20 multipurpose trees and shrubs (MPTS)
species (Albizia ferruginea; Albizia gummifera; Albizia niopoides; Berlinia grandiflora;
Bauhimia monandra; Dialium guineense; Dalbergia sissoo; Enterolobium cyclocarpum;
Leucaena leucocephala; Lonchocarpus sericeus, Milletia griffoneanus; Milletia
thoningii; Napoliana imperialis; Parkia bicolor; Pterocarpus santalinoides; Senna
spectabilis; Treculia africana; Terminalia superba; Tetrapluera tetraptera and Xylia
xylocarpa) were investigated for their feed value. The MPTS were grown on an ultisol
in southeastern Nigeria and were subjected to proximate analyses, nylon bag
degradability studies and cluster analysis. Among species, crude protein (CP) ranged
from 104 g kg-1 DM in P. bicolor to 205 g kg-1 DM in A. gummifera, neutral detergent
fibre (NDF) ranged from 498 g kg-1 DM in L. leucocephala to 771 g kg-1 DM in L.
sericeus, acid detergent fibre (ADF) ranged from 303 g kg-1 DM in T. superba to 661 g
kg-1 DM in L. sericeus, acid detergent lignin (ADL) ranged from 75 g kg-1 DM in T.
superba to 305 g kg-1 DM in L. sericeus. Also, ADF-ash ranged from 0.78 g kg-1 DM in
E. cyclocarpum to 15.58 g kg-1 DM in D. guineense. Except E. cyclocarpum and S.
spectabilis, the remaining 18 MPTS studied had effective degradabilities (ED) less than
500 g kg-1 DM effective degradability. Eight MPTS (A. ferruginea; A. niopoides; B.
monandra; D. sissoo; E. cyclocarpum; L. leucocephala; S. spectabilis; T. superba)
were classified as high quality, another eight (A. gummifera; B. grandiflora; L. sericeus,
N. imperialis; P. bicolor; P. santalinoides; T. tetraptera and X. xylocarpa) as medium
quality while, the remaining four (D. guineensis; M. griffoneanus; M. thoningii; T.
africana) fell into the low quality class based on their nutrient composition and ruminal
DM degradaibility. The results indicate that most of the MPTS could be used as good
quality feed for small ruminants in Nigeria.
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Chemical Composition and Dry Matter Degradation Characteristics of Multi-Purpose
Trees and Shrubs in the Humid Lowlands of Southeastern Nigeria

N.J. Anyanwu
1
and I. Etela
2,*

1
Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, PMB
1526, Owerri, Nigeria
2
Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB
5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria








______________________
*
Correspondence: I. Etela, Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, University of Port
Harcourt, East-West Road, Choba, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Tel: +234 703 437 8380 Fax: -Nil-
Email: ibisime.etela@uniport.edu.ng or ibetela@yahoo.com
Manuscript
Click here to download Manuscript: TEXT DM Degradation for MPTS 02Nov2012.doc
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Abstract
Twenty weeks forage re-growth from 20 multipurpose trees and shrubs (MPTS) species
(Albizia ferruginea; Albizia gummifera; Albizia niopoides; Berlinia grandiflora; Bauhimia
monandra; Dialium guineense; Dalbergia sissoo; Enterolobium cyclocarpum; Leucaena
leucocephala; Lonchocarpus sericeus, Milletia griffoneanus; Milletia thoningii; Napoliana
imperialis; Parkia bicolor; Pterocarpus santalinoides; Senna spectabilis; Treculia africana;
Terminalia superba; Tetrapluera tetraptera and Xylia xylocarpa) were investigated for their
feed value. The MPTS were grown on an ultisol in southeastern Nigeria and were subjected
to proximate analyses, nylon bag degradability studies and cluster analysis. Among species,
crude protein (CP) ranged from 104 g kg
-1
DM in P. bicolor to 205 g kg
-1
DM in A.
gummifera, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) ranged from 498 g kg
-1
DM

in L. leucocephala to
771 g kg
-1
DM in L. sericeus, acid detergent fibre (ADF) ranged from 303 g kg
-1
DM in T.
superba to 661 g kg
-1
DM in L. sericeus, acid detergent lignin (ADL) ranged from 75 g kg
-1

DM in T. superba to 305 g kg
-1
DM in L. sericeus. Also, ADF-ash ranged from 0.78 g kg
-1

DM in E. cyclocarpum to 15.58 g kg
-1
DM in D. guineense. Except E. cyclocarpum and S.
spectabilis, the remaining 18 MPTS studied had effective degradabilities (ED) less than 500 g
kg
-1
DM effective degradability. Eight MPTS (A. ferruginea; A. niopoides; B. monandra; D.
sissoo; E. cyclocarpum; L. leucocephala; S. spectabilis; T. superba) were classified as high
quality, another eight (A. gummifera; B. grandiflora; L. sericeus, N. imperialis; P. bicolor; P.
santalinoides; T. tetraptera and X. xylocarpa) as medium quality while, the remaining four
(D. guineensis; M. griffoneanus; M. thoningii; T. africana) fell into the low quality class
based on their nutrient composition and ruminal DM degradaibility. The results indicate that
most of the MPTS could be used as good quality feed for small ruminants in Nigeria.
Keywords: Browse plants, feed quality, rumen degradation, southeastern Nigeria, ultisol

Introduction
Trypanotolerant breeds of sheep and goats are important livestock components of the farming
systems of the humid lowlands of West and Central Africa. Most parts of the region are
characterized by heavy rainfall (over 2,000 mm yr
-1
), poor soil fertility due to leaching and
unsustainable farming practices, high soil acidity and subsequently low farm productivity. To
reverse these trends, methods must be developed for villagers to adopt sustainable natural
resource management practices that promote integration of tree crops, livestock and field
crop production practices to provide high quality fodder for feeding livestock (Le Houerou,
1980). Although the humid forest zone is endowed with a large variety of indigenous MPTS,
not all have potentials as good quality forages for livestock (Larbi et al., 1998).

Smallholder farmers who utilize cut-and-carry systems often obtained their MPTS from the
wild and fallow lands near their homesteads where they are known to grow freely. However,
there are seldom deliberate attempts to cultivate or incorporate these highly valued browse
species into existing farming systems (Devendra and Sevilla, 2002). Thus, identification of
MPTS species with high potentials for providing good quality fodder for livestock and
maintaining soil fertility has been a major focus of agroforestry research in the region (Kang
et al., 1990; Larbi et al., 1997; Larbi et al., 2000). Some promising species have been
identified based on their use by farmers, biomass production, chemical composition and
potential for soil fertility improvement. However, although some data on nutritive value
attributes are available, only few have reported their rumen degradability (AFNETA, 1991;
Larbi et al., 1993; Larbi et al., 2005). Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the
chemical composition, rumen dry matter degradability characteristics and the relationship of
these factors in 20 species of MPTS previously screened for alley farming in the humid forest
lowlands of West and Central Africa.

Materials and Method
Experimental site and plant establishment
The MPTS experimental plot was established in 1991 at the International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA), High Rainfall Station, Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 20
multipurpose trees and shrubs (MPTS) namely: A. ferruginea; A. gummifera; A. niopoides;
B. grandiflora; B. monandra; D. guineense; D. sissoo; E. cyclocarpum; L. leucocephala; L.
sericeus, M. griffoneanus; M. thoningii; N. imperialis; P. bicolor; P. santalinoides; S.
spectabilis; T. africana; T. superba; T. tetraptera; X. xylocarpa) were tested. The seedlings
were planted on plots with two rows, 2.4 m apart with intra-row spacing of 25 cm. Plots were
6 m x 4.8 m and was laid out as randomized complete block design with 20 treatments (as
MPTS species) and three replications. Trees were pruned at 50 cm above ground level once
per year as part of the routine management practice. The samples used for this experiment
were obtained when the trees were pruned after 20 weeks of re-growth in March 1998.

I n-situ rumen dry matter degradation
The samples of the leaf fraction harvested from the MPTS were oven-dried at 60C and,
subsequently, milled to pass through a 2.5-mm screen using a Christy Hunt (Brook Rompton
Parkinson and Co.) laboratory mill. About 5 g of dried samples were weighed in an analytical
balance (Mettler AE 2000) and put into nylon bags measuring 180 mm x 90 mm with a pore
size 41 . The bags were incubated in duplicates for 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs in three
rumen fistulated NDama steers about three years of age and weighing, approximately, 250
kg. Steers grazed Panicum maximum (Guinea grass) pasture and were supplemented with
wheat bran at the rate of 2 kg per animal per day. At the end of each incubation period, bags
plus residue were withdrawn from the rumen, put into a bucket of water at about 30C and
washed immediately under running tap water for about 25 minutes until the rinse water
became clear. Residues were dried to a constant weight at 60C for 48 hours in a forced-air
oven to compute dry matter (DM) disappearance. The degradation constants were estimated
by fitting data to the exponential model by rskov and McDonald (1979) and as revised by
McDonald (1981):
Y= a + b (1-e
-ct
)
where:
Y = dry matter disappearance at time t
a = zero time intercept or soluble fraction that would degrade at time t
b = insoluble portion or degradable fraction that would degrade at time t
c = rate of degradation (% h
-1
) of the b fraction
PD = potential degradability or extent of degradation (a + b) in time t.
The effective degradability (ED) was estimated from the model:
ED = a + (b*c)/(c + k) assuming a rumen outflow rate k, of 3% (0.03 h
-1
).

Chemical analysis
The forage were harvested and dried at 60C for 72 h and a portion of the dried samples was
milled to 1.0 mm particle size using a laboratory hammer mill and then stored for chemical
analyses following specific standard procedures described by AOAC (2002). Micro-Kjeldahl
method was used for nitrogen (N) determination while, CP content was computed as N% x
6.25 (AOAC Official Method 954.01). The fibre (NDF; ADF; ADL; ADF-Ash) contents
were determined according to standard procedures (Van Soest et al., 1991).

Data analysis
Data from the degradation experiment were used to predict the degradation constants using
the Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS) programme procedure (Proc NLIN) of SAS (2002).
Data were later subjected to analysis of variance as a randomized complete block design with
three replications (fistulated animals) using the General Linear Model procedure (Proc GLM)
of SAS (2002). Stepwise regression analysis followed by the Pearson correlation analysis was
later conducted between the chemical composition and degradation characteristics to
ascertain the presence of any relationship. The browse species were, subsequently, subjected
to cluster analysis based on both the nutrient composition and rumen DM degradability
characteristics using the FASTCLUS procedures of SAS (2002).

Results and Discussions
Chemical composition
The 20 multipurpose trees and shrubs studied exhibited differences in chemical composition
as presented in Table 1. Results showed that the CP ranged from 104 g kg
-1
in P. bicolor to
205 g kg
-1
DM in A. gummifera, NDF ranged from 498 g kg
-1
DM in L. leucocephala to 771 g
kg
-1
DM in L. sericeus, and ADF ranged from 303 g kg
-1
DM in T. superba to 661 g kg
-1
DM
in L. sericeus. Also, ADL ranged from 75 g kg
-1
DM in T. superba to 305 g kg
-1
DM in L.
sericeus while, ADF-ash ranged from 0.78 g kg
-1
DM in E. cyclocarpum to 15.58 g kg
-1
DM
in D. guineense. It is worthy to note that species with CP above 180 g kg
-1
DM such as A.
gummifera, A. niopoides, E. cyclocarpum, L. leucocephala and T. superba also recorded high
to medium effective degradability values.

Ruminal dry matter degradation
There was significant (P < 0.05) variation in dry matter degradation characteristics as shown
in Table 2. The soluble fraction (a-value) ranged from 139 g kg
-1
DM in L. sericeus to 333 g
kg
-1
DM in A. ferruginea while the degradable fraction (b) ranged from 329 g kg
-1
DM in P.
santalinoides to 680 g kg
-1
DM in L. sericeus. The rate of degradation (c) was as low as 0.011
h
-1
in M. griffoneanus and T. africana to as high as 0.037 h
-1
in S. spectabilis. Computed
values for PD showed a range of 545 g kg
-1
DM for P. santalinoides to 883 g kg
-1
DM in M.
griffoneanus while, the ED showed a range of 330 g kg
1
DM for T. tetraptera to 560 g kg
-1

DM in E. cyclocarpum. The differences in degradation characteristics amongst the MPTS
may partly relate to variation in chemical composition (Nsahlai et al., 1994) and
configuration of cell wall polysaccharides and their effect on rumen microbial attachment and
colonization of digesta particles (Cheng et al., 1984). This could result in differential intakes
and rates of synthesis of microbial nitrogen per unit intake of species when given as sole
diets.

The high effective degradability recorded for E. cyclocarpum in Table 2 may relate to
complete absence of tannins and other phenolic compounds as reported by Norton (1994).
This corroborates earlier reports that in situ nylon bag methods could be used to rank MPTS
for quality in initial screening studies. Based on the effective degradability, the MPTS could
be grouped into high, medium and low quality groups with effective degradability ranges of
more than 450 g kg
-1
DM, from 400 to 450 g kg
-1
DM, and less than 400 g kg
-1
DM
respectively. E. cyclocarpum, S. spectabilis, B. monandra and A. ferruginea were among the
high quality group; T. superba, L. leucocephala and A. niopoides were in the medium quality
group while P. bicolor, L. sericueus, P. santalinoides, X. xylocarpa and T. tetraptera
belonged to the low quality group.

In a study by Larbi et al. (2005) to determine edible fodder yield and nutritive value in
response to coppice regrowth, E. cyclocarpum, S. spectabilis and B. monandra were
classified as intermediates in three clusters that yielded at least 10 metric tons of DM per ha.
When grouping was done on the basis of high fodder yield, intermediate crude protein
content and low cell wall contents, the species were identified as having potential for high
digestibility of dry matter due to the low cell wall contents compared to other species. In the
study, the 20 browse species were classified into three classes based on their nutrient
composition and rumen DM degradability characteristics (Table 3; Figures 1; 2; 3)
Depending on the desired objectives, these groups could be subjected to further nutritional,
environmental and soil nutrition improvement studies.

Conclusion
The results indicate the importance of MPTS and their ranking based on crude protein and
fibre contents, as well as degradation data is a guide for their selection. Although, the result
for the in sacco nylon bag method has been purported to over-estimate in vivo digestibility at
times, it is advisable that the reader considers this aspect while interpreting degradation
results. However, the in sacco degradability characteristics are very useful information and
have been successfully used for screening and classifying different accessions of browses.

Acknowledgement
Staff and management of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Ibadan are acknowledged for data
collection and provision of facilities for the project.

References
AFNETA. 1991. Alley Farming Network for Tropical Africa. Annual Technical Report.
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria, 99 pp.
AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists). 2002. Official methods of analysis of
AOAC International, 17th ed. AOAC International. Gaithersburg, MD, USA. (AOAC
Official Methods 954.01).
Cheng, K.-J., C.S. Stewart, D. Dinsdale and J.W. Costerlon. 1984. Electron microscopy
of bacteria involved in the digestion of plant cell walls. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 10:
93-120
Devendra, C. and C.C. Sevilla. 2002. Availability and use of feed resources in crop-animal
systems in Asia. Agric. Systems. 71: 59-73.
Kang B.T., L. Reynolds and A.N. Atta-Krah. 1990. Alley farming. Adv. Agron. 43: 315-
319.
Larbi A., M.A. Jabber, N.B. Orok, B. Idiong and J. Cobbina. 1993. Alchornea cordifolia:
A promising indigenous browse species adapted to acid soils in south eastern Nigeria
for integrated crop-livestock agroforestry production system. Agrofor. Syst. 22: 33-41.
Larbi A., J.W. Smith, A.M. Raji, I.O. Kurdi, I.O. Adekunle and D.O. Ladipo. 1997.
Seasonal dynamics in dry matter degradation of browse in cattle, sheep and goats.
Small Rum. Res. 25: 129-140.
Larbi, A., J.W. Smith, I.O. Kurdi, I.O. Adekunle and D.O. Ladipo. 1998. Chemical
composition, rumen degradation and gas production characteristics of some multi-
purpose trees and shrubs during wet and dry seasons in the humid tropics. Anim. Feed
Sci. Technol. 72: 81-96.
Larbi, A., A.A. Awojide, I.O. Adekunle, D.O. Ladipo and J.A. Akinlade. 2000. Fodder
production responses to pruning height and fodder quality of some trees and shrubs in a
forest savanna transition zone of south western Nigeria. Agrofor. Syst. 48: 157-168.
Larbi, A., N.J. Anyanwu, U.I. Oji, I. Etela, L.D. Gbaraneh and D.O. Ladipo. 2005.
Fodder yield and nutritive value of browse species in the West African humid tropics:
response to age of coppice regrowth. Agrofor. Syst. 65: 197-205.
Le Houerou, H.N. 1980. Chemical Composition and nutritive value of browse in tropical
West Africa. In: Le Houerou, H.N. (ed.,) Browse in Africa: the Current state of
Knowledge. International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
pp 261-279.
McDonald, I. 1981. A revised model for the estimation of protein degradability in the rumen.
J. Agric. Sci., Camb. 96: 251-252.
Nsahlai, I.V., D.E.K. Siaw and P.O. Osuji. 1994. The relationships between gas production
characteristics and chemical composition of 23 browses of the genus Sesbania. J. Sci.
Food Agric. 65: 13-20
Norton, B.W. 1994. Nutritive value of tree legumes. In: Gutteridge, R.C. and H.M. Shelton.
Forage tree legumes in Tropical Agriculture, CAB International, Oxon. 389 pp.
rskov, E.R. and I. McDonald. 1979. The estimation of protein degradability in the rumen
from incubation measurements weighted according to rates of passage. J. Agric. Sci.,
Camb. 92: 499-503.
SAS. 2002. SAS for Windows Release 9.1 (Statistical Analysis Systems Institute Inc.: Cary,
NC, USA).
Van Soest, P.J., J.B. Robertson, B.A. Lewis. 1991. Methods for dietary fibre, neutral
detergent fibre and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. Dairy
Sci. 74: 3583-3597.






























Figure 1: Variation in cluster groupings amongst 20 humid tropical browse species based
on nutrient composition and rumen dry matter degradability characteristics

Name of Observation or Cluster
L. sericeus
A. gummifera
P. santalinoides
N. imperialis
X. xylocarpum
T. tetraptera
P. bicolor
B. grandiflora
T. africana
M. griffoniana
D. guinensis
M. thoningii
L. leucocephala
A. noipoidesi
T. superba
D. sisso
B. monandra
A. ferruginea
S. spectabilis
E. cyclocarpum
Number of Clusters
20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Figure
Click here to download Figure: FIGURE DM Degradation for MPTS 02Nov2012.doc

Figure 2: Variation in cluster groupings amongst 20 humid tropical browse species
based on nutrient composition alone







Figure 3: Variation in cluster groupings amongst 20 humid tropical browse species based
on rumen dry matter degradability characteristics alone

Table 1. Chemical composition (g kg
-1
) of 20 weeks re-growth from 20 multipurpose trees and shrubs harvested from an ultisol
in southeastern Nigeria
S/ Browse species Crude protein
Neutral detergent
fibre
Acid detergent
fibre
Acid detergent
lignin
Acid detergent
fibre-ash
1 A. ferruginea 165 610 453 137 2.49
2 A. gummifera 205 706 549 204 2.99
3 A. niopoides 199 588 467 192 4.20
4 B. grandiflora 141 682 543 277 2.49
5 B. monandra 162 599 426 146 5.07
6 D. guineense 121 619 485 194 15.58
7 D. sissoo 161 559 354 118 3.03
8 E. cyclocarpum 193 616 457 146 0.78
9 L. leucocephala 186 498 343 141 4.42
10 L. sericeus 125 771 661 305 2.72
11 M. griffoneanus 145 627 535 174 12.24
12 M. thoningii 107 637 508 168 6.04
13 N. imperialis 107 584 529 165 5.11
14 P. bicolor 104 661 591 275 2.66
15 P. santalinoides 131 617 517 202 4.90
16 S. spectabilis 147 543 387 118 3.30
17 T. africana 139 622 375 120 14.91
18 T. superb 181 588 303 75 3.35
19 T. tetraptera 139 695 556 238 3.12
20 X. xylocarpa 133 650 519 210 3.28

Minimum 104 498 303 75 0.78
Maximum 205 771 661 305 15.58
Mean s.e. (df=18) 150 6.9 624 13.6 478 20.4 180 13.4 5.13 0.925

Table
Click here to download Table: TABLE DM Degradation for MPTS 02Nov2012.doc
Table 2. Rumen dry matter degradability characteristics (g kg
-1
) of 20 weeks re-growth of 20 multi-purpose trees and shrubs
harvested from an ultisol in southeastern Nigeria
S/ Browse species
Soluble
fraction
Degradable
fraction
Degradation
rate (h
-1
)
Potential
degradability
Effective
degradability
1 A. ferruginea 333 344 0.021 678 472
2 A. gummifera 227 590 0.014 817 417
3 A. niopoides 232 530 0.016 763 417
4 B. grandiflora 181 520 0.013 701 338
5 B. monandra 316 375 0.027 691 485
6 D. guineense 225 477 0.012 703 363
7 D. sissoo 249 486 0.018 736 428
8 E. cyclocarpum 288 549 0.030 837 560
9 L. leucocephala 246 553 0.014 800 424
10 L. sericeus 139 680 0.013 820 342
11 M. griffoneanus 238 645 0.011 883 367
12 M. thoningii 294 526 0.016 821 466
13 N. imperialis 191 449 0.017 641 353
14 P. bicolor 186 452 0.017 639 349
15 P. santalinoides 215 329 0.018 545 340
16 S. spectabilis 247 554 0.037 801 549
17 T. africana 224 633 0.011 858 384
18 T. superb 271 426 0.021 697 446
19 T. tetraptera 200 392 0.015 592 330
20 X. xylocarpa 179 451 0.016 631 334

Minimum 139 329 0.011 545 330
Maximum 333 680 0.037 883 560
Mean s.e. (df=38) 234 11.0 498 22.0 0.018 0.0015 732 21.3 408 15.8

Table 3. Classification of 20 browse species into three clusters based on their mean variation in
nutrient composition and rumen dry matter degradability
Parameter (g kg
-1
DM)
Cluster
1 2 3
A. ferruginea A. gummifera D. guineense
A. niopoides B. grandiflora M. griffoneanus
B. monandra L. sericeus M. thoningii
D. sissoo N. imperialis T. Africana
E. cyclocarpum P. bicolor
L. leucocephala P. santalinoides
S. spectabilis T. tetraptera
T. superba X. xylocarpa
Nutrient composition s.e.
Crude protein 174.3 6.41 135.6 11.03 128.0 8.66
Neutral detergent fibre 575.1 14.03 670.8 20.24 626.3 3.94
Acid detergent fibre 398.8 21.61 558.1 16.93 475.8 35.10
Acid detergent lignin 134.1 11.73 234.5 16.82 164.0 15.68
Acid detergent fibre-ash 3.3 0.47 3.4 0.36 12.2 2.17

Rumen dry matter degradability s.e.
Soluble fraction 273.8 12.91 189.8 9.37 245.3 16.56
Degradable fraction 477.1 30.02 482.9 39.36 570.3 41.01
Degradation rate 0.023 0.0028 0.015 0.0006 0.013 0.0012
Potential degradability 750.4 20.92 673.3 35.36 816.3 39.84
Effective degradability 472.6 19.72 350.4 9.88 395.0 24.10