Halophytic Plants For Animal Feed

Halophytes remain a fascinating, yet surprising, topic and new approaches that bring additional data are always welcome and appreciated. The book “Halophytic Plants for Animal Feed: Associated Botanical and Nutritional Characteristics” fully demonstrates this reality, through an in-depth discussion of the relations between the botanical and nutritional characteristics of halophytes. It also considers different aspects of halophytes on a botanical, histological, ecological and nutritional basis when utilized as animal feed components. The issues of the histo-chemical aspects of halophytes are addressed with regard to their impact on nutrient compositions and availability to animals, while the important nutrient contents of halophytes are considered in relation to their value to animals. This book fills a notable gap in the literature, and will stimulate researchers to pursue the many unanswered questions in this field.

i)             Biosaline agriculture

ii)            Salt affected soils are found everywhere on earth. Climate dictates greatly the type of prevailing vegetation in a specific region. Generally, there is a close correlation between climate and vegetation which, in turn, is a sensitive indicator of the climate. Both climate and vegetation profoundly affect soil. While it is sometimes impossible for traditional plants to grow in the salt affected soils, the halophytes have the ability to grow and survive because they have a range of adaptive characteristics not only in morphological or structural features but also in metabolic and physiological processes. However, their classification has been debatable among scientists up to day. Halophytes have been proposed as promising plants for many economic purposes. One of their uses is the utilization as dietary feed component for animals. The production of biomass and the quality of the natural vegetation of halophytes considerably vary from one place to another and from season to season and even from month to another depending on several factors, mainly environmental ones. This book discusses in depth the relations between botanical and nutritional characteristics of halophytes when utilized as animal feed components. The issues of histo-chemical aspects of halophytes are discussed with regard to their impact on nutrient compositions and availability to animals. The important nutrient contents of halophytes (e.g. energy, proteins, minerals as well as plant secondary metabolites, etc.) are considered in relation to their value to the animals. Eventually, a chapter was added to discuss how to maximizing the utilization of halophytes as feed for animals. The book will contain description of the botanical characteristics of halophytes (with diagrams) their geographic distribution and an attempt to quantify the likely contribution to fodder supplies. The book also will discuss in detail the feeding and nutritional values of these plants. Chemical and composition tables of halophyte plants will also be included. The advantages and disadvantages of using halophytes as animal feed components will also be discussed. Casting light on both energy and protein contents is essential in light of salt and plant secondary metabolites loads.

iii)           “Halophytic Plants for Animal Feed: Associated Botanical and Nutritional Characteristics” may be used for classes of the following courses: Upper undergraduate and graduate level of the specializations of Animal Nutrition, Animal physiology, Botany, plant physiology in different colleges of agriculture all over the world (estimated 30 students/class/college). It might be used as a supplementary reading for students of taxonomy, ecology, and environment. It will serve as a reference book for professionals/practitioners. It   will serve as a reference book for farmers having livestock. It will serve as a reference book for people inhabiting arid and semi-arid areas

Key Features: - 10 organized chapters on halophytic plants - Explains the relationship between botanical and nutritional characteristics of halophytes when utilized as animal feed components - Covers information about important nutrient contents and secondary metabolites in halophytes - Includes information on nutritional and feeding values for animals, Includes informative diagram and tables - Includes references for further reading This book fills a notable gap in available literature on the subject, and will stimulate researchers to pursue the many unanswered questions in the field of biosaline agriculture. This text serves as reading material for undergraduate and graduate level courses and specializations in agriculture, animal nutrition, animal physiology, and botany and plant physiology. It also serves as supplementary reading for students of taxonomy, ecology, and environmental science courses. Professional and apprentice livestock farmers will also benefit from the information presented by the book.