The quality of preserved biomass of some poaceae species under the conditions of Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Energy is an essential ingredient of socio-environmental development and economic growth in the modern economy. Anaerobic digestion is an important way of making use of biomass resources and production of renewable energy, environmentally friendly and rapidly expanding in the latest years. Energy crops can be a suitable feedstock and if preserved they can be supplied to biogas plants continuously throughout the year. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the quality and biochemical methane production potential of preserved biomass (silage and haylage) prepared from Poaceae plants, 3-year-old perennial species Miscanthus giganteus and tall fescue Festuca arundinacea, winter cereal crops: rye Secale cereale and triticale Triticum secale. The silage and haylage prepared from these species mowed in June, by organoleptic characteristics (smell, colour and consistency) and biochemical indices (pH, content and correlation of organic acids, chemical composition of the dry matter), largely, met the standards. The chemical composition of the Miscanthus giganteus silage did not differ essentially compared to Triticum secale haylage. The biochemical methane production potential of Miscanthus giganteus silage made as a result of the first mowing in June reached 355 L/kg, Festuca arundinacea silage - 340 L/kg, Secale cereale haylage -333 L/kg, Triticum secale haylage - 358 L/kg organic matter, respectively.