IV] I. B. CHATTERJEE, MD. ABDUL HYE AND MD. SAYED ALI 259
stem is intermediate (16 per cent to 23 per cent), and the softer stem the lowest at 12 per cent to
19 per cent, whereas on the basis of the whole plant the dry matter varies from 15 per cent to 23
per cent (Table IV). If the proportionate distribution of green and dry matters are examined (Table
VI), it will be noted that the leaves and softer stems together account for about 80 per cent leaving
20 per cent to the rejected or coarser part of the stem. This is further corroborated by the mean
given in Table VII.
If now the nitrogen is examined on a similar basis (Tables V and VI), the highest percentage of
nitrogen on a dry basis is in the leaves (1 to 2 per cent), the softer stem is intermediate at 0.4 per cent
to 1 per cent and the coarser stem lowest at 0.2 per cent to 0.4 per cent. The differences are still
strikingly demonstrated on the basis of their proportionate distribution. Here it will be noted
(Table VI) that if the nitrogen present in the whole plant is taken at 100, not more than 5 to 8 parts
(with the exception of the three in which it has been between 8.6 to 10.6) are in the coarser stem.
In other words over 90 per cent are certainly available in the leaves and softer stem, possibly in a
more palatable and assimilable form for the nourishment of the animal. The largest proportion
is in the leaves (53 to 69 parts), while the softer stem accounts for 24 to 40 parts.
It is interesting at this stage to compare how the other organic and mineral nutrients vary.
As they could not be estimated separately for each day's sample, a composite sample was made on a
proportionate basis from the collection of 15 days from 15th July 1941 to 29th July 1941. The data
are set up in Table VII.
TABLE VII
Composition and distribution of nitrogen in different fractions of Napier grass
Components
Dry matter. . .
Organic matter . .
Total nitrogen . .
Albuminoid nitrogen .
Crude protein. . .
True protein . . .
Ether extract . .
Crude fibre . . .
Nitrogen-free extract .
Total carbohydrate .
Ash
.
.
.
.
Insoluble residue .
Soluble ash . .
Calcium (CaO) . .
Magnesium.(MgO) . .
Potash (K20) . .
Soda (Na20) . .
Phosphate (P205) .
Chloride (C12) . .
Composite samples from 15th July 1041 to 29th July 1041 (15 days)
Green basis
84/1041
Leaves
Per cent
22.95
20.89
0.29
0.23
1.84
1.44
0.64
7.23
11.18
18.42
2.06
1.09
0.97
0.12
0.08
0.42
0.03
0.14
0.03
85/1941
Sorter
stem
Per cent
16.23
15.11
0.09
0.05
0.53
0.33
0.17
5.73
8.68
14.41
1.13
0.34
0.79
0.03
0.08
0.38
0.02
0.14
0.05
80/1941
Coarse
stem
Per cent
20.57
19.88
0.05
0.04
0.33
0.26
0.10
7.93
11.52
19.45
0.68
0.26
0.42
0.03
0.05
0.14
0.03
0.10
0.02
Whole
plant
Per cent
18.91
17.61
0.14
0.10
0.86
0.63
0.29
6.56
0.91
10.46
1.3.1
0.54
0.77
0.06
0.07
0.35
0.02
0.13
0.04
Dry basis
84/1941
Leaves
Per cent
100.0
91.03
1.28
1.00
8.01
6.26
2.77
31.52
48.72
80.25
8.97
4.76
4.22
0.51
0.37
1.84
0.11
0.62
0.14
85/1941
Softer
stem
Per cent
100.0
93.07
0.53
0.33
3.28
2.00
1.02
35.28
53.49
88.77
6.9
2.13
4.81
0.22
0.40
2.36
0.13
0.80
0.36
86/1941
Coarser
stem
Per cent
100.0
96.67
0.26
0.20
1.61
1.28
0.47
38.56
56.03
94.59
3.33
1.25
2.07
0.12
0.24
0.66
0.15
0.48
0.17
Whole
plant
Per cent
100.0
93.11
0.73
0.53
4.56
3.33
1.51
34.66
52.38
87.04
6.98
2.84
4.06
0.29
0.39
1.83
0.11
0.70
0.22
Distribution of nutrients
per 100 parts
Total of each=100
Leaves
34.0
33.3
59.9
64.0
59.9
64.0
62.6
30.9
31.6
31.4
44.2
57.0
35.3
60.1
32.6
34.2
33.0
30.0
21.8
Softer
stem
46.0
46.0
33.1
28.4
33.1
28.4
31.2
46.8
46.9
4.6.9
46.1
34.2
54.5
31.6
55.0
58.6
41.1
56.4
63.2
Coarser
stem
20. 0
20.7
7.0
7.0
7.0
7.6
6.2
22.3
21.5
21.7
9.7
8.8
10.2
8.3
12.4
7.2
25.9
13.6
15.0