Effect of phenological stages on nutritional assessment of ten plant species in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, District Karak, Pakistan

The proximate analysis of ten plant species from Tehsil takht-e-Nasrati, district Karak was conducted at three phenological stages using standard techniques. The species showed variable results. In the test species, the moisture content varied from 2.11-14.12 %, 1.85-11.51 and 1.12-11.51%; the ash contents varied from 3.08-17.16%, 5.09-18.12% and 6.13-19.09%; the fibre contents varied from 2.14-11.09%, 2.43-12.31% and 2.78-13.01%; the carbohydrate contents varied from 54-85.1%, (50-84.1) and 47.1-81.1%; the fat contents varied from 1.06-5.46%, 1.09-5.98% and 1.56- 6.57 %; the protein contents varied from 2.11-12.41%, 3.14-15.87% and 4.12-18.54%; the energy value varied from 305.12- 394.23 KCal/100g, 314.21-423.13 KCal /100g and 321.23-434.26 KCal /100g at vegetative stage, reproductive stage and post reproductive stage respectively. Proximate analysis of such plant species can help us to determine the health benefits achieved from their use in society. It is concluded that the poor livestock productivity in research area is partially due to insufficient amount of available poor quality forage that requires attention of the range mangers to improve the habitat and livestock breeds.