Rice Straw, It`s Quality and Quantity as Affected by Storage Systems in Bangladesh

Abstract

The effects of current storage practices on the nutritive quality and the level of mycotoxin contamination of rice straw were studied in four selected villages of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Farmers were allowed to store the same variety of rice straw in both improved and traditional systems. Straw samples were collected from both the stores and analysed for nutrient composition and in vitro digestibility. Chemical analysis of rice straw showed that storage methods had no significant (P>0.05) effect on OM, CP and ME contents of rice straw. However, improved storage method significantly (P<0.01) increased nitrogen free extract, in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro organic matter digestibility of rice straw compared with those of traditional storage method. Chemical analyses for mycotoxin content in the rice straw of traditional storage showed lower level of Fumonisin and no detectable level of Aflatoxins (B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂). The results suggest that improved storage system is essential since it increases the quality of rice straw in respect of nutrient composition as well as in vitro digestibility. A definite conclusion regarding the mycotoxin level can only be made after two or three years of monitoring.