Ligno-cellulose quality and calorific value of green phytomass of Galega orientalis L., a novel energy crop

The scope of research was to determine the ligno-cellulose quality and calorific value of eastern galega, Galega orientalis L. Two complete datasets of acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), crude cellulose (CE), hemicellulose (HEM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and high heating value (HHV) were evaluated, wherein the first one deals with the quality content and the second one with the quality yield. The average, minimal, and maximal content were: ADF 38.29 – 24.68 – 49.89%, ADL 8.89 – 4.98 – 14.16%, CE 29.40 – 18.74 – 40.09%, HEM 12.83 – 9.17 – 18.01%, NDF 51.11 – 34.56 – 61.69%, and HHV 17.325 – 14.871 – 19.707 MJ/kg, respectively. The adequate values of yield were: ADF 3.135 – 0.271 – 9.295 t/ha, ADL 0.698 – 0.060 – 2.115 t/ha, CE 2.438 – 0.210 – 7.180 t/ha, HEM 0.925 – 0.109 – 3.035 t/ha, NDF 4.052 – 0.379 – 12.331 t/ha, and HHV 126.140 – 20.653 – 367.872 GJ/ha, respectively. Taking into account the two harvests per year together, the adequate values of yield were: ADF 6.271 – 1.375 – 11.512 t/ha, ADL 1.340 – 0.314 –2.583 t/ha, CE 4.875 – 1.061 – 9.099 t/ha, HEM 1.851 – 0.536 – 3.425 t/ha, NDF 8.103 – 1.911 – 14.317 t/ha, and HHV 252.275 – 79.074 – 429.258 GJ/ha, respectively. To achieve ideal ligno-cellulose quality and calorific value, in terms of quality content, the optimal plant height was 120–170 cm, dry matter (DM) yield was 15–18 t/ha, and DM content at harvest was 25%, while in terms of quality yield, the optimal height and DM content at harvest were the same, but DM yield of 15–20 t/ha per harvest and even more is desirable.