title: Methane production from horse manure and stall waste with softwood bedding.
abstract: Substantial stall waste is generated from horses on softwood bedding. The methane potential (G(pot)) of horse manure and constructed mixtures of stall waste with softwood bedding was determined at 35°C. G(pot) of 68, 191 and 273 mL/g volatile solids (VS) were estimated for three separate batches of horse manure, indicating variability in the material. Cumulative energy production over 20-40 days ranged from 3.11 ± 0.92 to 8.45 ± 5.42 × 10(5)kJ/metric ton wet weight horse manure alone, and from 1.69 ± 0.39 to 3.91 ± 0.47 × 10(5)kJ/metric ton wet weight horse manure plus softwood stall bedding (mixed at a 1:1 ratio on a VS basis). Softwood bedding was barely degradable and diluted the energy production of the stall waste; however, it did not cause inhibition of methane production from manure. Manually separated used softwood bedding contained substantial methane potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, 14 College Farm Road, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Wartell
authors.forename: Valdis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krumins
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alt
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Bryan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: Donna E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Fennell
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008372:Manure; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014835:Volatilization; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008372:Manure; D014866:Waste Products; D008697:Methane