USING OF MILLET STRAW FOR ENERGY PURPOSES

Abstract

The article considers the issue of using plant waste from agriculture for energy production in Ukraine. The following aspects are analyzed: the formation of straw and sifted grains of cereals, in particular, millet (P. miliaceum L.), available directions of their utilization, as well as the prerequisites for the possibility of application in energy purposes. A positive correlation was noted between the parameters of the structure of millet plants and investigated elements of cultivation technology. When applied to the studied species of millet, both the grain yield of plants and biomass, which after harvesting forms waste, increases as well, and it is expedient to use it as a source of biofuel. The use of agricultural techniques in research has had a positive effect on both the increase in biomass and grain productivity of energy millet. The highest yield was recorded in the variants when applying N60P60K60: in the variety Jubilee – 5.31 t/ha, Zolushka – 5,00 t/ha (50–55% to control), which provided the amount of waste mass – 5,0–5,3 t/ha, respectively, and increased potential resource of raw materials for the production of various types of biofuels for millet by 50%.