journal of renewable natural resources bhutan - Ministry of Agriculture

Lhuenste12 N27.67585,E091.25453Mongar13 N27.26140,E091.2614914 N27.27538,E091.2373215 N27.27148,E091.20131Kelzang Wangchuk et alBaptong/Khoma500-600mm 1620mKilikhar 700-800mm 1886mMongar 700-800mm 1640mMongar 700-800mm 1196m -Tree selection, sampling and sample sizeIn order to maintain homogeneity amongst trees, trees with similarcharacteristics were selected. The selected trees were 15 to 17 years ofage with uniform height, disease and pest free and were not subjectedto lopping over the last one year.The leaves of different ages were randomly collected from each treeand mixed thoroughly. The final sample representing the tree wascollected for chemical analysis. 15 representative samples werecollected from 15 different sites in winter. Samples collected were cutinto 2 to 4 cm length for uniform drying. The cut samples were ovenodried for 24 hours at the temperature of 60 C. The dried samples werelater ground and subjected to nutrient analysis.Laboratory analysis for nutrient contentA total of 60 finely ground samples from 15 trees were subjected toanalysis for determining nitrogen (N %), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF),Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), and Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD%).a. NitrogenContent of Nitrogen (N%) was determined by the Kjeldhal method(AOAC 1990). The crude protein (CP%) was calculated as N%*6.25.4