Mineral Concentrations in Different parts of Elaeis guineensis Ashed at 1000 and 6500C for the Production Dietary Minerals

Abstract

Various parts of oil palm tree, palm inflorescence (PInf), palm bunch (PB) and palm kernel shell PS) sampled locally were ashed at different temperatures (10000C and 6500C) to determine their mineral concentration and possible uses as dietary mineral sources in animal production. The order of mineral concentration were K>P>Na>Mg>Ca> Fe>Zn>Mn>Cu>Cr>Ni and P>K>Ca>Na>Mg>Fe>Mn>Cr>Zn>Cu>Ni at 10000C and 6500C respectively. At both temperature, PInf yielded significantly more macro minerals (p<0.05) than PS, indicating that PInf is richer in macro minerals. Higher micro mineral values were obtained at 10000C than at 6500C, with PInf again, general yielding higher mineral values than PS. However, PS yielded the highest Ca/P and Na/K ratios at 10000C, while at 6500C PB had a higher Ca/P ratio and PS had a Na/K ratio of one. It is concluded that for general purposes, 6500C ashing temperature should be adopted as the ideal for producing dietary ash from different parts of palm tree. However, 10000C ashing temperature could be adopted if there is a specific need to increase the micro mineral content of the ash.