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Journals / Black Sea Journal of Agriculture / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 4

In Vitro Digestibility of Different Hydroponic Grain Sources and Use in Ruminant Feeding

Mustafa Boğa(NİĞDE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, BOR MESLEK YÜKSEKOKULU)0000-0001-8277-9262
Hatice Nur Kılıç(NIGDE OMER HALISDEMIR UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-9131-4010
Pages
575–583
Publication Date
2026-07-15
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings revealed that although hydroponic grains provided high crude protein content (15.96-16.04%), organic matter digestibility (47.92-82.80%) and energy values (ME ranging from 7.59-12.59 MJ/kg DM) showed variability.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Forage crops are an essential nutrient source in animal nutrition for meeting nutrient requirements and stimulating appetite as green forage.
📊
Key Findings & Data:This situation, due to limited cultivation areas and insufficient yield per unit area, prevents the complete fulfillment of roughage and concentrate feed requirements of farm animals in terms of quality and quantity.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings revealed that although hydroponic grains provided high crude protein content (15.96-16.04%), organic matter digestibility (47.92-82.80%) and energy values (ME ranging from 7.59-12.59 MJ/kg DM) showed variability.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Forage crops · Soilless farming · Hydroponic production

Abstract

Forage crops are an essential nutrient source in animal nutrition for meeting nutrient requirements and stimulating appetite as green forage. However, providing fresh forage to animals throughout the year is challenging or even impossible in our country. This situation, due to limited cultivation areas and insufficient yield per unit area, prevents the complete fulfillment of roughage and concentrate feed requirements of farm animals in terms of quality and quantity. This leads to productivity losses in animal production and increased feed costs. Therefore, various studies are currently being conducted to ensure the supply of green forage throughout the year. For this purpose, in this study, the nutritional composition (dry matter, ASH, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, NDF, ADF), in vitro digestibility parameters, and methane production levels of hydroponically produced forms of barley, wheat, corn, oat, and sorghum grains cultivated in the Niğde region were determined. Raw, room temperature-dried, and oven-dried forms of hydroponic grains were compared. Nutrient composition, energy values, in vitro gas production, pH, ammonia concentration, and methane production were evaluated to determine their suitability for ruminant nutrition. The findings revealed that although hydroponic grains provided high crude protein content (15.96-16.04%), organic matter digestibility (47.92-82.80%) and energy values (ME ranging from 7.59-12.59 MJ/kg DM) showed variability. Overall, the findings indicate that the suitability of hydroponically produced grains for ruminant nutrition depends on grain species and post-harvest processing method.

Özet

Forage crops are an essential nutrient source in animal nutrition for meeting nutrient requirements and stimulating appetite as green forage. However, providing fresh forage to animals throughout the year is challenging or even impossible in our country. This situation, due to limited cultivation areas and insufficient yield per unit area, prevents the complete fulfillment of roughage and concentrate feed requirements of farm animals in terms of quality and quantity. This leads to productivity losses in animal production and increased feed costs. Therefore, various studies are currently being conducted to ensure the supply of green forage throughout the year. For this purpose, in this study, the nutritional composition (dry matter, ASH, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, NDF, ADF), in vitro digestibility parameters, and methane production levels of hydroponically produced forms of barley, wheat, corn, oat, and sorghum grains cultivated in the Niğde region were determined. Raw, room temperature-dried, and oven-dried forms of hydroponic grains were compared. Nutrient composition, energy values, in vitro gas production, pH, ammonia concentration, and methane production were evaluated to determine their suitability for ruminant nutrition. The findings revealed that although hydroponic grains provided high crude protein content (15.96-16.04%), organic matter digestibility (47.92-82.80%) and energy values (ME ranging from 7.59-12.59 MJ/kg DM) showed variability. Overall, the findings indicate that the suitability of hydroponically produced grains for ruminant nutrition depends on grain species and post-harvest processing method.

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Cite This Article

Boğa, M., Kılıç, H. N. (2026). In Vitro Digestibility of Different Hydroponic Grain Sources and Use in Ruminant Feeding. Black Sea Journal of Agriculture, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 4, 575–583. https://doi.org/10.47115/bsagriculture.1926063

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