EVALUATION OF HIGH-PROTEIN LEGUMES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LEAF PROTEIN-CONCENTRATES (LPC)

Performance of Amaranthus cruentus, Glycine max., Lablah purpureus and Canavalia ensiformis for the production of leaf protein concentrates (LPC) was evaluated using a random block design with 4 replications. T he experiment was sown in a typical red ferrallitic soil and harvested in the flowering period. The production of foliar protein was carried out by HCL (pH: 4.5) treatment and heat 85 degrees C. The canavalia h ad the highest (P < 0.001) biomass and protein yields (4.75 t/ha and 1 117.5 kg/ha, respectively), while dolicho showed the highest protein p ercentage (P < 0.05), without differing from canavalia (24.13%). With respect to LPC, canavalia surpassed (P < 0.001) in yield and protein c ontent (181.87 kg DM/ha with 65.55% CP). In the residue the greatest ( P < 0.001) biomass production was attained by canavalia (3.18 t DM/ha) , and the highest fibre content by soybean and dolicho (42.63 and 40.8 8%, respectively) Canavalia was superior in yield and protein content of its concentrates. However, all species performed well in the produc tion of LPC with high quality fractions. Further studies with these cu ltures for the search of an optimum harvest time for biomass fractioni ng, are proposed as well as the evaluation of other premisory species given their chemical composition.