In Vitro Gas Production of Lemongrass Leaves as Essential Oil Source and its Effect on The Kinetics of Gas Production

Abstract

The research was aimed to evaluate the effect of lemongrass leaves (Cymbopogon citratus) supplementation as essential oil (LL) in the ration toward total gas production and kinetics of gas production. The ration used in the study contained 9.94% crude protein and 88.5% total digestible nutrient. Essential oil (EO) was added in the following levels: 0 (control), 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/L and each treatment are replicated 3 times. Two cannulated Ongole crossbreed cows were used as inoculum donors. In vitro gas production was analyzed using Menke and Steingass (1988) method and the gas produced was recorded every hour for 48 h. The kinetics of gas production was analyzed using Fit Curve. The collected data were analyzed using one way variance analysis and the difference between mean was tested by Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Total gas production at 48 h decreased (P<0.01) 25.14; 21.19; 16.06% with LL supplementation 50, 75 and 100 mg/L compared to control, whereas LL supplementation 25 mg/L did not affect total gas production. LL supplementation did not affect initial gas production (a). Lower potential gas production (P<0.01) was observed with LL supplementation 50, 75 and 100 mg/L compared to control and greater LL supplementation showed lower potential gas production. Increasing LL supplementation did not affect the fractional rate of gas production (c). In general, based on this study, increasing EO supplementation from lemongrass leaves affected total gas production at 48 h and the kinetics of gas production.