Nutritional potential of Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.) Hitchc. & chase, a forage plant used in constructed wetlands treatment of faecal sludge and wastewater

In Cameroon, Echinochloa pyramidalis used in constructed wetlands as alternative macrophytes revealed an attractive market potentials because of its quality as forage in addition to its pollutant removal capacity. The effects of salinity and the combined effects of salinity and flooding on the nutritional potential of E. pyramidalis under drained and flooded conditions were evaluated after 45 and 100 days of faecal sludge treatment. Leaf and stem samples were analysed for their crude protein (CP) and chemical compositions, especially in terms of cell-wall components while their apparent digestible dry matter (DDM), total digestible nutrients (TDN) and metabolizable energy (ME) were estimated. The results showed that E. pyramidalis is potentially suitable for cattle feeding.