O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a extensão da contaminação proteica sobre a lignina Klason (LK) em gramíneas e leguminosas tropicais, e propor uma equação para estimar o conteúdo livre de proteína da lignina Klason (LKp). Foram avaliadas cinco espécies de gramíneas (30 amostras) e 12 de leguminosas (31 amostras). As leguminosas apresentaram maiores teores de LK. A contaminação proteica foi significativa em gramíneas e leguminosas, mas maior em amostras de leguminosas. O modelo para estimar LKp foi baseado nos conteúdos de LK e de proteína bruta (PB), da seguinte forma: LKp = 0,8807LK - 0,0938LK x D - 0,00338PB (R2=0,935), em que D=0, para gramíneas, e D=1 para leguminosas.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the extent of protein contamination on Klason lignin (KL) in tropical grasses and legumes, and to propose an equation to estimate the protein-free content of Klason lignin (KLp). Five grass (30 samples) and 12 legume species (31 samples) were evaluated. Legumes had higher KL contents. Protein contamination was significant in both grasses and legumes, but greater in legume samples. The model to predict KLp was based on KL and crude protein (CP) contents, as follows: KLp = 0.8807KL - 0.0938KL x D - 0.00338CP (R2=0.935), in which D=0, for grasses, and D=1 for legumes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the contents of fibrous compounds in tropical grasses and legumes according to utilization of sodium sulfite in the neutral detergent solution or using a procedure for contaminant protein correction. Samples of ten grasses and ten legumes were used. The contents of neutral detergent fiber were decreased when sodium sulfite was used; however, more prominent reductions were verified in legumes. Sodium sulfite decreased the acid detergent fiber content in both forage groups. The contents of neutral and acid detergent insoluble protein and lignin were reduced by sodium sulfite in legumes, but no effect was observed in grasses with regard to these variables. The decrease in fiber contents in legumes could be explained by the solubilization of lignin and decrease in insoluble nitrogen. However, the decreases in fiber in grasses could not be solely explained by the decrease in contaminant protein and solubilization of lignin, and loss of other fibrous compounds probably occurred. The utilization of sodium sulfite compromises the accuracy of the estimates of fibrous compounds contents in tropical forages. The precision of the estimates were not relevantly increased by sodium sulfite. The correction of insoluble fibrous compounds for protein is suggested instead of using sodium sulfite because there are no modifications on neutral detergent solution or undesirable solubilization of fibrous compounds.