Abstract:

Monthly changes in the ash contents and caloric values of the leaves of 5 Phoenix species in Palmae were discussed. The results showed as follows:(1)The range of ash contents of P. paludosa(7.25%～10.39%), P. canariensis(7.12%～10.09%)and P. dactylifera(7.01%～10.00%)was similar, and the differences were not significant by t test (P>0.05). P. canariensis, P. dactylifera and P. paludosa had the higher ash contents than P. roebelenii(6.20%～8.93%)(P<0.05)and P. hanceana(3.59%～6.94%)(P<0.000 1).(2)Seasonal changes in the gross caloric values varied with the species. The range of P. roebelenii (20.24～21.93 kJ·g^-1) was close to P. dactylifera (19.68～21.82 kJ·g^-1), and the differences were not significant by t test (P>0.05). The range of P. hanceana (18.51～21.51 kJ·g^-1), P. paludosa (18.40～20.56 kJ·g^-1) and P. canariensis(19.13～20.79 kJ·g^-1)was similar, and the differences were not significant by t test (P>0.05). P. roebelenii and P. dactylifera had the higher gross caloric values than P. hanceana(P<0.05), P. canariensis(P<0.005)and P. paludosa(P<0.000 5).(3)Gross caloric values were correlated remarkably with ash contents for P. hanceana, and gross caloric values were correlated with monthly rainfall (P<0.05) for P. hanceana, P. paludosa and P. dactylifera, respectively.(4)Seasonal ash-free caloric values varied with species, and seasonal changes in ash-free caloric values were different from that in gross caloric values, resulted from the differences in ash contents.

Key words: Palmae, Phoenix, Caloric value, Ash content, Monthly change