CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF POPLAR SPECIES LEAVES GROWN IN NINEVAH GOVERNORATE.

Abstract

Leaves forage of three Poplar species grown at Ninevah forest(Populus nigra , P. euphratica , P. deltoids) were evaluated for comparative seasonal contents of Crude protein , Ash, Organic matter, Dry matter, Eather extraction, Crude fiber, Soluble carbohydrates , Phosphorus, and Potassium which determined according to Anonymous. (2002), in order to determine the best date for collecting the forage of these species to be used at food shortage time for livestock and wild ungulates. Samples were collected in fivedates (20th April , 20th June, 20th Augest,20th October,20th November). The study showed that Populus nigra leaves were significantly different with other species and contained higher percentage of Ash, Crude protein and phosphorus and suitable percent of crude fibers , whereas Populus deltoids leaves contained the higher percent of dry matter, soluble carbohydrates, Eather extraction and Potassium and the lower percent of crude fibers , contained the lower percent of crude protein and higher percent of crude fibers. The study recommended using the forage of Populus nigra and P. deltoids leaves in livestock and wild Ungulates Nutrition because of there higher contain of crude protein over all growth season and the fibers percent did not increased too much by the progressive of growing season in adition to the good content of other nutrition compounds.

Keywords

• poplar forage
• chemical analysis
• poplar leaves