Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of lime pre-treatment on the chemical composition and in vitro rumen degradability of date palm leaves (DPL). Lime pre-treatments, with or without oxygen supply, were applied for 1, 2 and 3 weeks at 25 and 40 degrees C. Lime was neutralized by the Calcium-Capturing-by-Carbonation process. Delignification and in vitro rumen gas production were significantly influenced by duration, temperature and oxygen. At 40 degrees C, oxygen presence stimulated more delignification and subsequently increased in vitro rumen degradability. Lime pre-treatment with 0.2 g calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2))/g dry biomass for 3 weeks at 40 degrees C in the presence of oxygen resulted in a 3-fold increase in gas production after 24 h of incubation, compared with untreated biomass. Lime treatment of DPL with aeration resulted in higher lignin removal and subsequent rumen degradability than without aeration. A techno-economic analysis is needed to select the most efficient and economically feasible pre-treatment procedure.
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