Abstract

The study was undertaken to determine the effects of an alkali, ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH) treatment of residue of two vegetable soybean varieties on composition and in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD). Soybean residue was treated with no water and no NH₄OH (TUN), Water only (T00), and NH₄OH at 50 (T50), and 100 (T100) g kg^-1residue dry matter, and allowed to react for one week before chemical analysis was performed. The crude protein (CP) increased (P < 0.05) and in vitro dry matter disappearance improved (P < 0.05) with alkali treatment. The fiber content (ADF and NDF) was also reduced (P < 0.05) by alkali treatment but there was no difference (P > 0.05) in the effects of the alkali treatment levels. Ammonium hydroxide treatment increased (P < 0.01) in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) but no difference (P > 0.01) was observed between the alkali treatment levels. The development of more economical and safe procedures for handling the residue to improve digestibility of the structural cell wall components would be very beneficial for facilitating the use of soybean residue as potential source of feedstock for both feeding ruminant livestock and biofuel production.

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