Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXV, Issue 2
Written by Victor ŢÎŢEI
Legume plants play a major role in promoting sustainable agriculture, at global, regional and national levels. We investigated the biomass quality of the local ecotype of white sweetclover, Melilotus albus L., grown in an experimental field of the National Botanical Garden (Institute), Chişinău. That the green mass cut in the flowering period contained 27.9% dry matter. The dry matter of whole plants contained 132 g/kg CP, 82 g/kg ash, 381 g/kg CF, 386 g/kg ADF, 567 g/kg NDF, 64 g/kg ADL, 322 g/kg Cel, 181 g/kg HC, 86 g/kg TSS, with 58.8% DMD, RFV = 97, 11.66 MJ/kg DE, 9.57 MJ/kg ME, 5.59 MJ/kg NEl. The fermented fodder from Melilotus alba contained 127 g/kg CP, 414 g/kg CF, 99 g/kg ash, 407 g/kg ADF, 581 g/kg NDF, 58 g/kg ADL, 62 g/kg TSS, 348 g/kg Cel, 174g/kg HC, with nutritive and energy values: 57.2 % DMD, RFV = 92, 11.38 MJ/kg DE, 9.34 MJ/kg ME and 5.30 MJ/kg NEl. The biochemical methane potential of white sweetclover green mass substrate reached 267 L/kg organic matter and white sweetclover silage substrate - 278 L/kg organic matter. The local ecotype of white sweetclover can be used for the restoration of degraded lands, as a component of the mix of grasses and legumes for the creation of temporary grasslands. The harvested biomass can be used as alternative fodder for farm animals or as substrates in biogas generators for the production of renewable energy.
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