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The Effect of Corn Ensiling Methods on Digestibility and Biogas Yield

Author

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  • Karol Kupryaniuk

    (Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznań, Poland)

  • Kamil Witaszek

    (Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznań, Poland)

  • Iryna Vaskina

    (Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznań, Poland
    Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies, Sumy State University, Kharkivska Str. 16, 40007 Sumy, Ukraine)

  • Sebastian Filipek-Kaźmierczak

    (BioTech Agro Africa, Nenckiego 136A, 52-223 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Jakub Kupryaniuk

    (Department of Economics, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Maria Curie-Skłodowska Square 5, 20-031 Lublin, Poland)

  • Piotr Sołowiej

    (Department of the Electrotechnics Energetics Electronics and Automatics, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 11, 10-736 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Jacek Dach

    (Department of Biosystems Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-627 Poznań, Poland)

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of different corn silage preparation methods, namely the traditional and Shredlage methods, on digestibility and biogas yield in anaerobic digestion and its nutritional value—the first complex study of its kind. Key parameters of both silage types were analyzed, including chemical composition, fiber content, and elemental makeup. Methane and biogas production were assessed under standardized fermentation conditions. The results showed that the Shredlage method, characterized by more intensive chopping, led to higher biogas and methane yields per unit of organic dry matter compared to traditional silage. This improvement is attributed to enhanced digestibility due to the lower content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and crude fiber in Shredlage. An elemental analysis revealed slight differences in carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios, with both silages showing values suitable for efficient fermentation. Despite minor variations in mineral content, Shredlage demonstrated greater efficiency in biogas production, particularly for rapid fermentation processes. The findings underscore the importance of silage preparation techniques in optimizing biogas yield and suggest Shredlage as a superior option for enhancing energy recovery in biogas plants. Future work should explore the economic trade-offs and scalability of these methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Karol Kupryaniuk & Kamil Witaszek & Iryna Vaskina & Sebastian Filipek-Kaźmierczak & Jakub Kupryaniuk & Piotr Sołowiej & Jacek Dach, 2025. "The Effect of Corn Ensiling Methods on Digestibility and Biogas Yield," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:1:p:188-:d:1560147
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shen, Jiali & Luo, Xuan & Zhou, Min & Zhang, Qi & Wang, Yunpu & Ruan, Roger & Liu, Yuhuan & Cui, Xian, 2024. "Effect of different opening times on methanogenic potential of different fermentation types of silage during feed-out stage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    2. Robert Czubaszek & Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek & Wendelin Wichtmann & Grzegorz Zając & Piotr Banaszuk, 2023. "Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-25, January.
    3. Pochwatka, Patrycja & Rozakis, Stelios & Kowalczyk-Juśko, Alina & Czekała, Wojciech & Qiao, Wei & Nägele, Hans-Joachim & Janczak, Damian & Mazurkiewicz, Jakub & Mazur, Andrzej & Dach, Jacek, 2023. "The energetic and economic analysis of demand-driven biogas plant investment possibility in dairy farm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    4. Jakub Mazurkiewicz & Pola Sidoruk & Jacek Dach & Malgorzata Szumacher-Strabel & Dorota Lechniak & Paul Galama & Abele Kuipers & Ireneusz R. Antkowiak & Adam Cieslak, 2023. "Leverage of Essential Oils on Faeces-Based Methane and Biogas Production in Dairy Cows," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-11, October.
    5. Li-Li Wang & Yan-Fen Li & Young-Sang Yu & Hak-Jin Kim & Won-Jin Lee & Jong-Geun Kim, 2024. "Effects of a Delayed Harvest and Additives on the Fermentation Quality of Corn Stalk Silage," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-12, January.
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