Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXII, Issue 2
Written by Victor ŢÎŢEI, Sergiu COŞMAN
Taking into account the intensity and frequency of natural hazards, the expansion of areas with salinized and degraded soils in our region, it is necessary to mobilize, acclimatize and breed new crops that would ensure production in these severe conditions. The main objective of this research was to evaluate some biological features, the quality of green mass, the physical and mechanical characteristics of the dry biomass of the C4 perennial grass species - Sorghum almum Parodi, under the conditions of the Republic of Moldova. We have found that, in the 3rd year, Sorghum almum resumed vegetation in the middle of April and, in the mid- June the plants were about 190-200 cm tall, being harvest for the first time. The green mass productivity was 28.3 t/ha at the first harvest, 17.2 t/ha at the second harvest and 15.3 t/ha at the third harvest, respectively. The annual feed productivity achieved 11183 nutritive units and 860 kg digestible protein. The calculated biochemical methane production potential of Sorghum almum substrate reached 279-316 l/kg organic matter. The specific density of the solid biofuel - briquettes was 788 kg/m3, with 16.5 MJ/kg net calorific value. Sorghum almum can be used to obtain alternative green fodder for livestock, but also as multi-purpose feedstock for the production of renewable energy.
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