Some agrobiological features and quality indices of the biomass of Panicum virgatum and Panicum miliaceum grown under the conditions of the Republic of Moldova [Articol]

Abstract

This research was conducted to determine the productivity of switchgrass - Panicum virgatum and common millet Panicum miliaceum, grown in monoculture in the experimental plot of the NBGI Chişinău. It was determined that the dry matter yield and its biochemical composition varied among the Panicum species: 8.2-14.1 kg/m2 with 61-132/kg CP, 352- 419 g/kg CF, 82-101 g/kg ash, 372-433 g/kg ADF, 608-692 g/kg NDF, 39-59 g/kg ADL, 124-127 g/kg TSS, 333-381 g/kg Cel, 236-259 g/kg HC and the nutritive and energy values of the fresh mass fodder reached 55.2-59.9 % DDM, 9.049.73 MJ/kg ME and 5.05-5.75 MJ/kg NEl. The hay prepared from the studied Panicum species contained 56-132 g/kg CP, 79-104 g/kg ash, 348-384 g/kg Cel, 243-272 g/kg HC with 54.5-58.8 % DDM, 8.94-9.57 MJ/kg ME and 4.96-5.59 MJ/kg NEl. The prepared silages had pH index = 4.06-4.14, 30.6-32.5 g/kg organic acids with 88.0-93.5% lactic acid. We found that the biochemical methane potential of the studied substrates varied from 302 to 364 l/kg ODM. Panicum virgatum and Panicum miliaceum may be used as forages for livestock and as feedstock for renewable energy production in Moldova.