Influence of Harvest Period and Frequency on Methane Yield of Pennisetum Hybrids
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 3
Abstract
The biomass yield and mesophilic anaerobic digestion performance of Pennisetum hybrid that were collected at different harvest periods and cutting frequencies were investigated. Results indicated that chemical composition, biomass yield, and specific methane yield of Pennisetum hybrid were significantly influenced by harvest period and cutting frequency. The contents of total solids, volatile solids, carbon, cellulose, lignin and starch increased with a prolonged harvest period, whereas the nitrogen and crude protein content decreased. Specific methane yields decreased considerably from 280 to VS with a prolonged harvest period, whereas the biomass yield per hectare increased. A maximum dry matter yield of was achieved when the Pennisetum hybrid was harvested in October. When the cutting frequencies increased from twice to three times per year, the specific methane yields increased as the biomass yield decreased. Because of the reverse trend of anaerobic digestion performance and biomass yield with different harvest periods and cutting frequencies, the methane yield per hectare increased with prolonged harvest period and decreased cutting frequency. A maximum area-specific methane yield of was obtained; the corresponding energy production per hectare was approximately 169.71 Gj. Methane yield from the Pennisetum hybrid in southern China suggested that this grass could be an alternative feedstock for biogas production.
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Acknowledgments
The research was supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2012AA101802); the Chinese Academy of Sciences Key deployment project (KGZD-EW-304-1); the Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (KLCAS-2012-05); and the Special Cooperation Project of Chinese Academy of Chinese.
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© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Dec 5, 2014
Accepted: Jun 11, 2015
Published online: Aug 4, 2015
Discussion open until: Jan 4, 2016
Published in print: Sep 1, 2016
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