Energy content of hybrid Rumex patientia L. x Rumex tianschanicus A.Los (Rumex OK 2) samples from spring months and June

Abstract

Aim of this study was to determine the gross energy concentration of fresh, wilted and ensiled Rumex OK 2 (Rumex patientia L. x Rumex tianschanicus A.Los.) from spring months and June. Samples were collected in spring months and June of the year 2018. The plant of Rumex OK 2 consist in March mainly from rosette of leaves and the stalk is not higher than leaves, from April is stalk higher than rosette of leaves. The height of Rumex OK 2 during analysed months was following, March 60.96 ± 5.22 cm; April 114.70 ± 35.15 cm, May 168.31 ± 39.74 cm and June 197.41 ± 48.44 cm. Rumex OK 2 silage was made from wilted matter, with or without of addition of dried molasses. Gross energy was determined as the heat released after combustion of a sample (Leco AC 500) in MJ per kilogram of dry matter (DM) of the sample. The dry matter and gross energy concentration of fresh Rumex OK 2 increased during study, dry matter from 7.42% in March to 56.97% in June and gross energy from 18.00 MJ.kg-1 of DM in March to 18.88 MJ.kg-1 of DM in June. Statistically significant (P0.05). From all analysed Rumex OK 2 samples the highest concentration of gross energy had silage from May with addition of dried molasses, 19.04 MJ.kg-1 of DM. The utilisation of Rumex OK 2 from spring months can by neither for bioenergy production as a source of renewable energy, or after evaluation of nutritive value as a source of energy and nutrients in animal nutrition in form of pasture and silage. Rumex OK 2 from summer months seems to be utilized only as a source of heat via direct combustion.

Keywords

• Rumex OK 2
• silage
• gross energy
• dry matter