NUTRIENT DETERMINATION OF CASSAVA PLANT MEAL

Abstract

The study assessed the nutrient profile in composite Cassava Plant Meal (CPM) with a view to enancing its efficiency through bio-fortification. Three CPM products were developed from Tropical Manihot Species (TMS) 30572 harvested at 24 months. The sun-dried unpeeled cassava root meal cassava leaf meal and tender cassava stem meal were mixed at ratios 2:1, 2.5:1 and 3:1 while the ratio of the leaves to tender stems was 5:1 across the three cassava plant meal products. The proximate composition, minerals, amino acids and vitamins contents of CPM and maize were determined. Results of proximate contents showed that CPM products had comparable crude protein and nitrogen free extract as maize. CPM products showed superiority (P <0.05) in calcium content over maize meal though maize meal was significantly higher (P <0.05) in phosphorus content compared to the three CPM products. All evaluated parameters of amino acids showed differences (P<0.05) although methionine contents were lower in all CPM products and maize. CPM products had significantly (P
<0.05) higher values than maize in all evaluated vitamin contents. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that CPM products had comparable nutrient profile as maize with CPM product 1 comparatively better in all evaluated nutrient profile.