Abstract:

This article analyzed the biomass, ash contents, calorific values of dry weight and the deashing dry weight of four 5-year-old locust clones, such as 3-I, Robinia pseudoacacia,‘Yuciyihao’, Hungary tetraploie and common locust (CK) in Shan county, Henan Province. The results showed that the calorific values per dry mass and the deashing dry mass of clones were between 3 750-3 950 and 3 800-4 000 kcal·kg^-1, respectively (the order was: 3-I>CK>R. pseudoacacia 'Yuciyihao’>Hungary tetraploie). The calorific values of the different parts were between 3 800-3 960 and 3 840-4 000 kcal·kg^-1, respectively (the order was: middle portion of stem>branches>upper portion of stem>lower portion of stem). The calorific value of the dry mass and the deashing per the individual plant's branch or trunk were between 10 900-35 000 and 11 000-35 500 kcal·tree^-1 respectively, with the same order as the branch-trunk total biomass, that is, (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Yuciyihao’>3-I>CK>Hungary tetraploie ). In comprehensive analysis of the caloric value, ash contents and biomass, R. pseudoacacia ‘Yuciyihao’ would be the ideal clone which can be selected for energy cultivation, followed by 3-I, and the middle trunk would be the ideal part for energy, followed by branches.

Key words: locust, ash contents, calorific value, biomass