Abstract:
Fabaceae species play a crucial role in protein production for human and animal diet, soil structure and environmentally
friendly substitution for industrial N-fertilizers, valuable medicinal properties and multi-purpose use in various industries.
The local ecotype of liquorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, maintained in monoculture, served as object of study. The 3-year-old
Glycyrrhiza glabra started vegetating 23 days later, the plants had moderate growth and development rates that allowed
mowing them at the end of June, the green mass yield reached 4.38 kg/m2
, with moderate foliage (55 %), but reduced content
of dry matter, protein (13.80 %), cellulose (29.40 %), minerals (5.40 %) and high amount of fats (3.65 %), nitrogen free
extractive substances (47.75 %), essential amino acids (lysine, leucine, valine), in comparison with Onobrychis
viciifolia. The liquorice forage had cell wall content 485 g/kg NDF and 323 g/kg ADF can be classified as good quality
with relative feed value 122, dry matter digestibility 65.40 % and organic matter digestibility 56.70 %. The gas forming
potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra (first mowing) reached 567 L/kg with 52.5 % methane, but biogas yields based on the
concentration of acid detergent lignin and hemicellulose – 535 L/kg with 51.2 % methane, the potential methane production
ranged from 3014 to 3278 m3
/ha, exceeding Onobrychis viciifolia. The briquettes of Glycyrrhiza glabra were distinguished
by moderate specific density (873 kg/m3
), gross calorific value (18.7 MJ/kg) and ash content (1.7 %). The theoretical
ethanol potential from structural carbohydrates dry biomass averaged 511 L/t for Glycyrrhiza glabra, compared to
485 L/t corn stalks.
