title: Methane yield from switchgrass harvested at different stages of development in Eastern Canada.
abstract: Mesophilic methane yield of ensiled switchgrass grown in Eastern Canada was assessed. Switchgrass was harvested at three stages of development, corresponding to mid-summer, late summer and early fall in 2007. The regrowth of plots harvested in mid-summer was also harvested in early fall as a two-cut strategy. Specific methane yields decreased significantly with crop maturity from 0.266 to 0.309 (N)L CH(4)g(-1) VS in mid-summer to 0.191-0.250 (N)L CH(4)g(-1) VS in early fall; values were similar for the first harvest in late July and the second harvest (regrowth) in October. Approximately 25% more methane was produced by hectare for the two-cut strategy (2.90-3.44 x 10(6)(N)L CH(4)ha(-1)) compared to the one-cut strategy with a harvest in late summer (2.28-2.77 x 10(6)(N)L CH(4)ha(-1)). Methane yields from switchgrass grown under the cool humid climate of Eastern Canada suggest that this crop remains an interesting renewable alternative energy source.
authors: Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2000, College St., Sherbrooke, QC, Canada J1M 0C8. daniel.masse@agr.gc.ca
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Massé
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Gilbert
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Savoie
authors: Gilles
authors: G
authors: Bélanger
authors: Gaétan
authors: G
authors: Parent
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Babineau
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D002170:Canada; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis*; D008897:Panicum / Q000254:growth & development*; D012820:Silage
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D008697:Methane