# Nutritional quality and in vitro gas production of Piptocoma discolor (Kunth) Pruski forage across contrasting landscapes in the Colombian Amazon Piedmont

## TL;DR

This study found that Piptocoma discolor forage from different landscapes in the Colombian Amazon has varying nutritional quality and gas production, with potential benefits for ruminant nutrition.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the nutritional and gas production variability of Piptocoma discolor forage across contrasting landscapes.

## Key findings

- Crude protein and other nutrients were higher in the alluvial plain compared to the hill landscape.
- Forage from the hill landscape produced more gas in vitro than that from the alluvial plain.
- P. discolor showed moderately acceptable degradability regardless of the landscape.

## Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional quality and in vitro total gas production of Piptocoma discolor (Kunth) Pruski forage collected from two contrasting landscapes (alluvial plain and hill) in the Colombian Amazon piedmont. To achieve this, leaf and non-lignified stem samples were collected from scattered trees in each landscape and analyzed for their nutritional composition, degradability, and gas production. Crude protein (CP) levels differed significantly between landscapes (p < 0.05), with higher concentrations in the alluvial plain compared to the hill (14.6% vs. 9.5%, respectively). A similar trend was observed for ash, phosphorus, and nitrogen content (p < 0.05). However, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content was higher in the hill landscape. The concentrations of magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, zinc, manganese, copper, and iron did not differ significantly between landscapes (p < 0.05). Regardless of the landscape, P. discolor exhibited moderately acceptable degradability (72%). Cumulative gas production (CGP) at 96 h was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for forage collected in the hill landscape compared to the alluvial plain (66 vs. 53 ml CGP/g dry matter incubated, respectively). These results confirm the potential of P. discolor to improve ruminant nutrition and support sustainable silvopastoral practices in the region.