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Table 2 Chemical composition of fresh hemp before and after ensiling for 4 and 8 months without or with formic acid (1.0% of fresh material) or preserved with urea (3.0% of dry material)

From: Evaluation of preservation methods for improving biogas production and enzymatic conversion yields of annual crops

 

Harvest year 2008

Harvest year 2009

Components, percentage of dry matter

Fresh

Ensiled without additives

Ensiled with formic acid

Fresh

Ensiled without additives

Preserved with urea

 

Month 0

Month 4

Month 8

Month 4

Month 8

Month 0

Month 4

Month 8

Month 4

Month 8

Dry matter, %

30.3

27.8

27.6

28.5

29.3

63.4

58.5

64.5

66.7

68.5

WSCa

5.7

1.0

0.9

7.2

6.6

1.7

2.4

1.6

1.3

1.4

   Glucose

3.2

0.8

0.7

3.8

3.6

1.0

1.2

0.9

1.0

1.0

   Fructose

2.4

X

X

2.1

1.8

0.5

0.5

X

X

X

Glucansb

7.5

3.8

3.1

6.4

6.9

2.3

4.8

2.3

4.6

2.2

Cellulose

37.1

41.2

36.3

37.5

40.7

35.9

38.3

42.4

46.5

39.8

Arabinoxylans

12.0

7.8

10.0

9.4

9.7

11.8

8.4

9.3

7.4

9.4

Mannans

2.5

2.7

2.0

2.5

2.4

2.1

2.3

2.4

2.7

1.9

Galactans

1.9

1.1

0.8

1.8

1.7

1.8

1.5

1.5

1.9

1.6

Galacturonic acid

5.7

5.5

5.2

5.3

6.4

4.6

5.0

3.7

5.1

3.9

Lignin

16.9

12.9

16.6

13.4

14.5

16.8

14.0

14.7

13.0

15.0

Protein

7.5

7.5

8.1

8.1

8.1

6.9

6.9

6.3

9.4

10.0

Ash

8.0

9.7

8.2

7.9

7.9

5.0

6.8

6.3

6.6

6.2

  1. Samples were extracted with acetone. Water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and fructose were determined from the filtrates of the blended crop.
  2. aNon-structural carbohydrates expressed as total monosaccharides.
  3. bGlucans from non-cellulose parts.
  4. X = < 0.5% of dry matter.