Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXIV, Issue 1
Written by Mihai GADIBADI, Victor ŢÎŢEI, Valerian CEREMPEI, Ana GUŢU, Veceslav DOROFTEI, Dragoş COVALCIUC, Radu LÎSÎI, Veaceslav MAZĂRE, Andrei ARMAŞ
Plant biomass is a promising alternative to conventional, non-renewable sources of energy. The aim of this paper was to evaluate some biological peculiarities and the quality of green and dry biomass of Virginia mallow, Sida hermaphrodita cv. Energo, which has been cultivated in the experimental field of the National Botanical Garden (Institute), Chişinău. Corn, Zea mays, was considered as control. The results of our research revealed that the dry matter of the harvested Virginia mallow green mass contained 160 g/kg CP, 84 g/kg ash, 371 g/kg ADF, 529 g/kg NDF, 60 g/kg ADL, 311 g/kg cellulose and 158 g/kg hemicellulose; the biochemical biomethane potential of green mass substrates was 272 l/kg ODM. The dry stalks of Virginia mallow contained 46.03% carbon, 5.94% hydrogen, 0.32% nitrogen, 0.08% sulphur, 1.87% ash, 556 g/kg cellulose, 241 g/kg hemicellulose and 131 g/kg acid detergent lignin, but corn stalks –44.06% carbon, 5.65% hydrogen, 0.95% nitrogen, 0.21% sulphur, 4.40% ash, 417 g/kg cellulose, 250 g/kg hemicelluloses and 82 g/kg acid detergent lignin. The theoretical ethanol yield from structural carbohydrates averaged 578 L/t in Virginia mallow substrate, as compared with 485 L/t in corn substrate. The gross calorific value of biomass from Virginia mallow stalks averages 19.73 MJ/kg, but – from corn stalks – 17.8 MJ/kg. Sida hermaphrodita cv. Energo may serve as multi-purpose feedstock for renewable energy production.
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