The evaluation of the biomass quality of Spartina pectinata and prospects of its use in Moldova

Abstract

Prairie cordgrass - Spartina pectinata Bosc ex Link, Poaceae family, is a warm-season, C4 perennial rhizome grass native to North America. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the quality indices of green and ensiled mass substrate, solid dry biomass of the introduced taxa of Spartina pectinata, grown in monoculture in the collections of the National Botanical Garden (Institute), Chişinău. It was established that Spartina pectinata fresh mass substrate used for anaerobic digestion contained 43 g/kg CP, 66 g/kg ash, 437 g/kg Cel, 301g/kg HC, 59 g/kg ADL, 55 g/kg TSS, with C/N = 74 and biochemical methane potential 299 l/kg, but the ensiled substrate - 44 g/kg CP, 76 g/kg ash, 473 g/kg Cel, 323 g/kg HC, 57 g/kg ADL, with C/N = 72 and biochemical methane potential 303 l/kg, respectively. It has been determined that prairie cordgrass solid dry biomass harvested in winter period contained 453 g/kg Cel, 294 g/kg HC, 82 g/kg ADL, the estimated theoretical ethanol yield averaged 543 L/t. The prepared solid fuel, briquettes and pellets, had significantly higher net calorific value than perennial sorghum and corn stem fuel. The investigated introduced taxa of prairie cordgrass, may be used as multi-purpose feedstock for renewable energy production in Moldova.