CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF AQUATIC MACROPHYTES I. INVESTIGATION OF ORGANIC CONSTITUENTS AND NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL

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Abstract
Chemical analyses were conducted on unwashed samples of four aquatic plant species harvested at three progressive dates during 1974. All species showed an extremely high ash content. The ash content increased in Potamogeton spp. with progress in the harvesting time and varied only slightly in Cladophora glomerata. Myriophyllum spicatum and Vallisneria americana, harvested in September, were second growth, which was reflected in the much lower ash and considerably higher organic nutrient levels. The neutral-detergent fiber (NDF) level tended to be higher in all species for samples harvested in September. Acid-detergent fiber (ADF) was also higher during the same month except in Potamogeton spp. With the exception of Potamogeton spp., the level of acid-detergent lignin (ADL) was similar in all species at the different dates. Both NDF and ADF values were inflated because of unavoidable contamination with mineral matter. A further experiment with washed and unwashed plant samples harvested the following year showed that washing decreased the ash content markedly, in most cases with a concomitant increase in proximate constituents and gross energy values. All species, either washed or unwashed, were very low in dry matter (5–20%); the NDF and ADF levels for most plants were similar to those of alfalfa, while ADL content was relatively low. Results indicated that aquatic macrophytes would have nutritive value similar to alfalfa; however, their high ash and low dry matter contents would necessitate quality control and additional processing for possible use as feedstuffs.

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