Effect of different levels of pistachio by-product biochar on ruminal fermentation parameters, protozoa population and methane production by in vitro method

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different levels of pistachio by-product biochar (PBPB) on cumulative gas production, gas production parameters, short chain fatty acids, digestibility, methane and ammonia production and volatile fatty acids in an in vitro batch fermentation system. The study was carried out in a completely randomized design with four treatments and three replications. Four levels of PBPB including 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 % was added to the experimental diets with ratio 60% forage to 40% concentrate. All samples were incubated in three replications using buffered ruminal fluid collected from 4 Kermanian sheep. Result indicated that inclusion of biochar to experimental diet had no significant effect on cumulative gas production after 24 and 96 h of incubation, short chain fatty acids, protozoa population and volatile fatty acids. Inclusion of PBPB to the diet significantly increased pH (P<0.01) compared to control treatment . Concentrations of ammonia (P<0.05) and methane (P<0.01) significantly decreased at 1 and 1.5% of PBPB compared to control. In general, these findings indicated that the use of PBPB can have had a great potential to decrease methane mitigation and ammonia concentrations and improving of rumen fermentation