Methane Yield and Feed Quality Parameters of Mixed Silages from Maize (Zea mays L.) and Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

• Published in: Bioenergy research Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 64 - 73
• Main Authors: Nurk, Liina, Graβ, Rüdiger, Pekrun, Carola, Wachendorf, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.03.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: acid detergent fiber; Agricultural policy; Agricultural practices; Agricultural production; Beans; Biodiversity; Bioenergetics; Biogas; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Corn; Cropping systems; Crops; crude protein; Detergents; ecosystem services; Environmental impact; Experiments; Feed quality; Feeds; Fibers; field experimentation; Field tests; Germany; Harvest; Intercropping; lectins; Life Sciences; Maize; Methane; methane production; neutral detergent fiber; Parameters; Phaseolus vulgaris; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Ecology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Sciences; Silage; starch; Studies; sugars; Wood Science & Technology; Yield; Zea mays; United States > US; Germany; Intercrop silages of maize and beans; Methane yield; Biogas batch test
• DOI: 10.1007/s12155-016-9779-2
• ISSN: 1939-1234

European agricultural policy increasingly focuses on environmental friendly cropping systems. Intercropping of maize ( Zea mays L.) and common beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has been suggested as an alternative cropping system with environmental benefits. The aim of this study was to assess methane yield potential of mixed silages. Based on material from two field experiments at three sites in Germany, mixed silages were produced with proportions of individual components varying from 0 to 100 % of fresh matter in increments of 12.5 %. Chemical parameters (neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (XP), starch, sugar, and crude fat) were determined, and batch tests were performed to measure methane yield potential from silages. With increasing bean proportion, concentrations of XP increased while NDF, methane yield, and methane content decreased. While methane yield showed a negative relationship with XP content ( R 2  = 0.56***), a positive relation was found with NDF ( R 2  = 0.55***). The reduction of methane yield of circa 1 L of methane per each additional bean percentage in the silages could not be explained by the chemical parameters of the silages. It is hypothesized that other chemical compounds, such as lectins, which were not determined in the present study, may have influenced methane production.