EXPLOITING FODDER AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF ALTERNANTHERA PHILOXEROIDES (ALLIGATOR WEED) AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF HARVEST: A POTENTIAL FODDER WEED

Invasive weed species dominate crop fields, forages, rangelands and pastures, thus, it is important to determine their nutritive value. Two year field study was aimed to explore nutritive value of quickly spreading invasive weed Alternanthera philoxeroides fodder at five harvest times including 28 days after emergence (DAE), 42 DAE, 56 DAE, 70 DAE and 120 DAE. Maximum fresh and dry matter yield of single cut fodder was 22.9-27.7 and 4.8-5.1 t ha(-1), respectively. The range of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), ash and fat contents in whole plant fodder except roots were 1.8-2.3%, 1.5-2.0%, 1.6-2.1%, 5.9-9.2 mg kg(-1), 39.8-99.9 mg kg(-1), 18.5-31.4 mg kg(-1),34.4-64.5 mg kg(-1), 15.1-29.8% and 2.3-3.6%, respectively. Acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and crude protein contents were ranging 13.0-17.9% and 23.3-38.9% and 10.2-14.2%, respectively. The total phenolic contents were 52-87 ug g(-1). Keeping in view the nutritive quality, digestibility and fodder yield, 70 DAE was the best time of harvest. Alternanthera philoxeroides possess nutritive value comparable to that of alfalfa, sorghum and maize. In addition, potential for multi cutting, positive response to climate change, vigorous growth under stresses and all type of habitats ensure its potential as new fodder species.