Annual protein yield and extractable protein potentials in three legumes and two grasses

TY - JOUR

T1 - Annual protein yield and extractable protein potentials in three legumes and two grasses

AU - Thers, Henrik

AU - Eriksen, Jorgen

PY - 2022/7

Y1 - 2022/7

N2 - BACKGROUND New protein sources with low environmental and climatic impact are needed. Perennial crops show advantages as compared to annual crops and the upcoming biorefinery technology can extract proteins from the perennial biomass for protein concentrate production. The search for best-suited biomass crops needs to include harvest during the full growing season to support economic viability of biorefinery plants. Here we examined two grasses under increasing N fertilizer regime (175, 350 and 525 kg N ha(-1)) and three legumes, subject to a four-cut strategy. The well-defined Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) was used to estimate potential extractable protein. A key, previously presented in the literature, was applied in order to translate the CNCPS results into potential extracted protein concentrate. RESULTS Crude protein (CP) yield per hectare was highest in red clover in 2015 (2907 kg CP ha(-1)) and the fertilized (525 kg N ha(-1)) tall fescue in 2016 (2435 kg CP ha(-1)). When translating the numbers into potential extraction of protein concentrate, the red clover had the highest protein concentrate yield per hectare in 2015 (835 kg CP ha(-1)) and lucerne in 2016 (803 kg CP ha(-1)). CONCLUSION The results revealed that the entire season needs attention for optimization and not only the first cut, since both CP yields and quality peaks in different cuts across the five species and 2 years. Further knowledge of CP yield responses to field management and species mixtures are needed in order to advise farmers on the optimal crop for biorefining. (c) 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

AB - BACKGROUND New protein sources with low environmental and climatic impact are needed. Perennial crops show advantages as compared to annual crops and the upcoming biorefinery technology can extract proteins from the perennial biomass for protein concentrate production. The search for best-suited biomass crops needs to include harvest during the full growing season to support economic viability of biorefinery plants. Here we examined two grasses under increasing N fertilizer regime (175, 350 and 525 kg N ha(-1)) and three legumes, subject to a four-cut strategy. The well-defined Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) was used to estimate potential extractable protein. A key, previously presented in the literature, was applied in order to translate the CNCPS results into potential extracted protein concentrate. RESULTS Crude protein (CP) yield per hectare was highest in red clover in 2015 (2907 kg CP ha(-1)) and the fertilized (525 kg N ha(-1)) tall fescue in 2016 (2435 kg CP ha(-1)). When translating the numbers into potential extraction of protein concentrate, the red clover had the highest protein concentrate yield per hectare in 2015 (835 kg CP ha(-1)) and lucerne in 2016 (803 kg CP ha(-1)). CONCLUSION The results revealed that the entire season needs attention for optimization and not only the first cut, since both CP yields and quality peaks in different cuts across the five species and 2 years. Further knowledge of CP yield responses to field management and species mixtures are needed in order to advise farmers on the optimal crop for biorefining. (c) 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

KW - biorefining

KW - Cornell

KW - CNCPS

KW - forage crops

KW - protein extraction

KW - pulp

KW - GREEN BIOREFINERIES

KW - NET CARBOHYDRATE

KW - FORAGE LEGUMES

KW - FUTURE

KW - FRACTIONATION

KW - SYSTEMS

KW - CROPS

U2 - 10.1002/jsfa.11722

DO - 10.1002/jsfa.11722

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34907534

SN - 0022-5142

VL - 102

SP - 3742

EP - 3751

JO - Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture

JF - Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture

IS - 9

M1 - 11722

ER -