EFFECT OF BARLEY ETIOLATED SPROUTING WITH SOME HAYS USING SALINE WATER ON THE NUTRITIONAL AND ECONOMICAL VALUE OF THE PRODUCT

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of barley grain etiolated sprouts mixture with faba bean, Egyptian clover, wheat and rice hays to improve fodder value. Hays were used as media to etiolated sprouts of barley with three seeding densities (10, 20 and 30% w: w). Growing conditions of the system can produce between 12.8 to 38.38Kg of fresh fodder and 3.18 to 9.10Kg of dry fodder in 4 days from one kilogram of dry barley grains. The dry fodder per unit seed volume (Kg/Kg grain) was decreased with increasing seed density. Since hays were decreased but the nutrient content of the fodder, especially protein was increased. Barley etiolated sprouts improved quality of hays fodder from faba bean, Egyptian clover, rice and wheat crop. Carbohydrate lipid, protein and total energy content were increased with increasing barley-seeding density while crude fiber was decreased. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was decreased with decreasing seed density especially with rice hays (39.92) and increased with increasing seeding density especially with faba bean hays (74.77). Fiber fraction (Neutral detergent fiber NDF, Acid detergent fiber ADF, Acid detergent lignin ADL), cellulose and lignin percentage were decreased with increasing seeding density of barley, Relative feed value (RFV) was increased with increasing seed density for barley grown on faba bean, Egyptian clover, rice and wheat hays.                      The barley etiolated sprout production system obtained a good quality fresh forage in small area all year around and low cost estimated per ton DM; total digestible nutrients (TDN) and crude protein (CP) compared with hydroponic barely green sprouts. Therefore, the system can recommended as cheap energy (TDN) and protein (CP). In addition, the system saving agricultural lands and partially water consumption for strategy crop production as wheat and corn since its fodder products can produced and grown in small dark area during absence of natural forage.