A nutritional assessment of African yam bean <i>Sphenostylis stenocarpa</i> (Hochst ex A. Rich) Harms, and bambara groundnut <i>Voandzeia subterranea</i> L.

Abstract

Abstract Two grain legumes Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst ex A. Rich) Harms, and Voandzeia subterranea L. commonly grown in the tropics for human consumption, were evaluated nutritionally using broiler chick assays. Metabolisable energy content was high in both pulses, but true protein digestibility was low in S. stenocarpa (62.9%) and moderate in V. subterranea (77.0%). Both mineral content and availability were moderate. Amino acid content was similar to that of other pulses, cystine and methionine being low. Amino acid availability differed significantly between S. stenocarpa (62.6%) and V. subterranea (83.0%). Fatty acid composition was similar to that observed in most commonly eaten pulses.