PREDICTING NITROGEN AND DIGESTIBILITY OF FORAGES USING NEAR INFRARED REFLECTANCE PHOTOMETRY

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Abstract
A Technicon Infra Alyzer 2.5, near infrared reflectance analyzer equipped with the six filters (1.68, 1.94, 2.10, 2.15, 2.23, 2.31 μm) which are used for the estimation of percent nitrogen, oil and moisture of grain crops was evaluated for the analyses of percent total nitrogen, in vitro and in vivo dry matter digestibility in grasses, legumes and grass-legume mixtures. Of the three quality parameters, only percent nitrogen was estimated with an acceptable degree of accuracy. The analyzer, therefore, has a potential for rapid nitrogen analysis of grasses, legumes and grass-legume mixtures. Correlation coefficients of 0.90 and above were obtained between infrared and Kjeldahl nitrogen when the nitrogen content of grasses or legume test samples was derived on either a grass or a legume calibration. A slight decrease in the standard error of prediction occurred when grass and legume calibrations were used to estimate nitrogen content of grass and legume samples, respectively. To insure accuracy, samples used to develop calibrations as well as those to be analyzed should be finely ground. In addition, the moisture content of the samples must be kept within the moisture range of the calibration.

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