Study of mineral and nutritional components of some leguminous herbaceous and shrubs species in Tunisia

Chemical and mineral compositions, during four seasons, of aerial parts of five leguminous herbaceous species (Anthyllis vulneraria, Hedysarum coronarium, Medicago italica, Trifolium repens and Trifolium subterraneum) and seven leguminous forage shrubs (Acacia cyanophylla, Anthyllis barba jovis, Chamaecytisus albidus, Colutea arborea, Cytisus villosus, Leucaena leucocephala, Medicago arborea) grown in Tunisia were investigated. The main constituents of mineral elements determined spectrophotometrically were Zinc (120.95 ppm and 54.5 ppm), Phosphorus (0.46% and 0.3%), Sodium (2.05% and 0.24%), Potassium (1.66% and 2.25%), iron (480.35ppm and 570.11ppm) and copper (11ppm and 8ppm) in herbaceous species and shrubs, respectively. Fat contents obtained by Soxhlet varied between 3.24% and 6.3%. Both herbaceous and shrubs species had the same values of neutral detergent fiber (54%) and crude protein contents (20%) analyzed by (Van Soest, 1982) and Kjeldahl methods, respectively. These results were found to be influenced by their developmental stage and the maximum values were observed in spring. These leguminous, rich based on fiber, crude proteins, sodium, potassium and iron, might play an important role for animal nutrition. The Medicago italica and Anthyllis barba jovis were selected as good nutritive species. It had a potential for integration into livestock feeding agro-sylvopastoral culture.