title: Biogas potential from forbs and grass-clover mixture with the application of near infrared spectroscopy.
abstract: This study investigated the potentials of forbs; caraway, chicory, red clover and ribwort plantain as substrates for biogas production. One-, two- and four-cut systems were implemented and the influence on dry matter yields, chemical compositions and methane yields were examined. The two- and four-cut systems resulted in higher dry matter yields (kg [total solid, TS] ha(-1)) compared to the one-cut system. The effect of plant compositions on biogas potentials was not evident. Cumulative methane yields (LCH4kg(-1) [volatile solid, VS]) were varied from 279 to 321 (chicory), 279 to 323 (caraway), 273 to 296 (ribwort plantain), 263 to 328 (red clover) and 320 to 352 (grass-clover mixture), respectively. Methane yield was modelled by modified Gompertz equation for comparison of methane production rate. Near infrared spectroscopy showed potential as a tool for biogas and chemical composition prediction. The best prediction models were obtained for methane yield at 29 days (99 samples), cellulose, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre and crude protein, (R(2)>0.9).
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK 8830 Tjele, Denmark; Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Mara, 40450 Shah Alam, Malaysia. Electronic address: Radziah.Wahid@eng.au.dk.
authors.forename: Radziah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wahid
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
authors.forename: Alastair James
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
authors.forename: Henrik Bjarne
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.affiliation: Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Søegaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eriksen
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D029902:Medicago / Q000737:chemistry*; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008697:Methane
keywords: Biogas; Cutting strategy; Forbs; Near infrared spectroscopy