The biochemical composition of green mass and silage from Amaranthus hypochondriacus and its potential application in the Republic of Moldova

Victor Ţîţei

National Botanical Garden, Institute "Alexandru Ciubotaru"State University from the Republic of Moldova

Keywords: Amaranthus hypochondriacus, biochemical composition, biochemical methane potential, forage quality of green mass and silage, phytomass productivity, reddish genotype, yellowish genotype.

Abstract: Amaranths have high potential and can be considered as alternative multipurpose crops in most parts of the world. The goal of this study was to evaluate the quality indices of the green mass and silage from the yellowish genotype and the reddish genotype of prince's-feather amaranth, Amaranthus hypochondriacus, and the prospects of using them as feed for farm animals and as feedstock for the production of biomethane as renewable energy. The studied Amaranthus hypochondriacus genotypes in early flowering stage reached 167-175 cm, the phytomass productivity reached 86.29-93.30 t/ha or green mass or 11.84-12.86 t/ha dry matter with 15.7-16.7% CP, 9.0-10.1% ash, 32.9-34.9% CF, 34.8-36.2% ADF, 52.9-53.4% NDF, 5.4-5.8% ADL, 29.4-30.4% Cel, 17.2-18.1% HC, 608-617 g/kg DDM, RFV=106-109, 9.85-10.20 MJ/kg ME and 5.87-6.03 MJ/kg NEl. The biochemical composition and nutritive value of the silages prepared from the studied yellowish and reddish genotypes of Amaranthus hypochondriacus were: pH=3.95-4.03, 29.6-33.3 g/kg lactic acid, 6.6-6.9 g/kg acetic acid, 14.8-16.1% CP, 8.5-9.4% ash, 29.1-32.9% CF, 30.8-34.5% ADF, 48.9-51.5% NDF, 4.0-4.5% ADL, 26.8-30.0% Cel, 17.0-19.0% HC, 567-619 g/kg DDM, RFV=112-121, 12.23-12.75 MJ/kg DE, 10.04-10.47 MJ/kg ME and 6.06-6.49 MJ/kg NEl. The green mass and silage from the studied amaranth genotypes can be used as substrates in biogas plants, possessing a biochemical methane potential of 320-351 l/kg organic matter. The obtained results indicate the possibility of using the studied yellowish and reddish genotypes of Amaranthus hypochondriacus as initial material for breeding and implementing new local amaranth cultivars for agricultural production.