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Comparison of Ammonium, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride and Hydroxyl Ions on in Vitro Dry Matter Disappearance of Milo Stalks¹

New Mexico State University², Las Cruces 88003

Abstract

Effects and some interactions of cations and anions on in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of milo stalks were studied in five experiments. From 1 to 5% (of dry matter) of either sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH) were added as pretreatment to milo stalks. Although both NaOH and KOH treatments increased IVDMD over the control, NaOH increased IVDMD more than KOH, especially at higher treatment levels. In Exp. II ammonium chloride (NH₄CI), ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH), potassium chloride (KCl), KOH, sodium chloride (NaCl) and NaOH were used in three levels each (on a molar basis) as pretreatment of milo stalks. All hydroxide treatments improved IVDMD, but NaOH and KOH were superior to NH₄OH as pretreatments of milo stalks with 56.2, 55.0 and 46.4% IVDMD, respectively. Hydroxide compounds increased IVDMD, but chloride compounds reduced IVDMD slightly with increasing increments of the chloride ion. In Exp. Ill, NaCl replaced sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) as part of artificial rumen fluid (ARF), and IVDMD of milo stalks declined from 48 to 46% when chloride concentration reached 100 milliequivalents. Above 100 meq of chloride ion, IVDMD declined more rapidly to less than 30% with 165 meq chloride in ARF. Stalks were pretreated with 10 levels of NH₄OH varying from 0 to 4.5% of dry matter in Exp. IV. Addition of less than 2% of NH₄OH resulted in higher IVDMD (43 to 49%), but IVDMD did not increase much above 50% when more NH₄OH was added. In a final experiment, NaOH was replaced (on a molar basis) in increments of 10% by NH4OH as a pretreatment for milo stalks. The IVDMD percentage declined linearly from 52.3 to 43.4% as NH₄OH constituted a greater proportion of chemical treatment. Pretreatment with hydroxyl ion elevated IVDMD of low quality forage, but interactions with cations, dissociation constants of the specific chemicals and levels of chemical affected extent of improvement.

¹ Submitted as Journal Article 667, New Mexico Agr. Exp. Sta., New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces. The authors express appreciation to M. L. Galyean and H. E. Kiesling for reviewing the manuscript.

² Dept. of Animal and Range Sciences.