AMINO ACID COMPOSITION AND FORAGE VALUE OF GLYCYRRHIZA PALLIDIFLORA MAXIM. GRASS INTRODUCED IN KUZBASS

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to study the pale-flowered licorice (Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora Maxim.) of the legume family (Fabaceae) herb amino acid composition and forage value, introduced in the Kuzbass. Eighteen proteinogenic amino acids were identified in the raw materials of the third and fourth years of introduction. Eight of them are irreplaceable and ten of them are replaceable. The amino acids total content differed significantly by years and amounted to 6.266±0.89% in the third year and 12.541±0.51% in the fourth year. The content of tryptophan, arginine, leucine+isoleucine, valine, histidine, aspartic acid, and serine varied more strongly from year to year. The content of proline, tyrosine, and methionine varied less. Amino acids with polar negatively charged radicals (acidic) prevail. Their part of the total amino acid content averages 36.20%. Amino acid’s part with non-polar radicals (neutral) is slightly less – 31.80%. The smallest specific weight had amino acids with polar positively charged radicals (basic) 11.85%. Aspartic and glutamic acids, leucine+isoleucine, arginine, serine, proline were characterized by a larger part of the total amino acids. The crude fat, protein, ash, Barnstein protein, nitrogen-free extractive substances and phosphorus content reached the highest values in the third and fourth years. The crude fiber and calcium amount decreased with increasing plant age. Metabolic energy and energy feed units for raw nutrients for cattle averaged 8.98 MJ/kg and 0.90, respectively. The highest values were reached in the third and fourth years of cultivation. Thus, pale-flowered licorice grass is a promising plant as a fodder crop and for the preparation of feed additives.