International Congress Series 1293 (2006) 217 220

www.ics-elsevier.com

Optimising methane yield from anaerobic digestion

of manure: Effects of dairy systems and
of glycerine supplementation
Th. Amon a,*, B. Amon a, V. Kryvoruchko a, V. Bodiroza a,
E. Potsch b, W. Zollitsch c
a

University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems,
Division of Agricultural Engineering, Peter-Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Wien; Austria
b
Federal Research Institute for Agriculture in Alpine Regions, A-8952 Irdning, Austria
c
Division of Livestock Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Austria

Abstract. Biogas production is a very promising option to generate renewable energy. Currently,
specific parameters on the anaerobic digestibility of animal manures are unavailable which restricts
the exploitation of the promising potentials. Manures received from contrasting dairy systems were
anaerobically digested. The resulting methane yield ranged between 125 and 166 Nl CH4 (kg VS) 1
depending on the milk yield and diet of the dairy cow. A 6% supplementation of glycerine to pig
manure and maize silage resulted in a significant increase in CH4 production from 569 to 679 Nl
CH4 (kg VS) 1. D 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Biogas; Animal manure; Glycerine

1. Introduction
Biogas production from agricultural biomass offers environmental benefits and is an
additional source of income for farmers. Renewable energy is produced. Methane
emissions during manure storage are reduced and the fertiliser quality of the digestate is
high. Biogas plants require a targeted nutrient supply to achieve optimum biogas yields.
The research project aim was twofold: to find a relationship between dairy cattle diet,
manure composition and methane yields; and to optimise anaerobic digestion of pig
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +43 1 47 654 3502; fax: +43 1 47 654 3527.
E-mail address: thomas.amon@boku.ac.at (Th. Amon).
0531-5131/ D 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.ics.2006.03.007

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Th. Amon et al. / International Congress Series 1293 (2006) 217220

manure with maize silage and glycerine supplementation. With RME production steadily
increasing so is the amount of glycerine generated as a by-product. Thus, it is crucial to
find recycling strategies for glycerine.
2. Materials and method
In part 1 of the research project, experiments were carried out to quantify the specific
CH4 yield of dairy cow manures. The Federal Research Institute for Agriculture in Alpine
Regions conducted feeding trials with dairy cows at contrasting milk yields, and collected
their manures. Manures for the digestion experiments had a feces to urine ratio of 2:1
(basis fresh matter). The milk yield ranged from 11.2 to 29.2 l milk per cow and day.
Animal diets differed in their concentrate level and in forage composition. Low yielding
cows were fed only roughage. With increasing milk yield, the concentrate supplementation
increased to 11.0 kg DM per cow and day and the roughage intake decreased (Table 1).
In part 2 of the project, glycerine was added in increasing amounts to a mixture of
maize silage, pig manure and rapeseed meal. The pig manure was received by a
conventional fully slatted floor system. Feces and urine were collected together as slurry.
Manure was directly taken from the slurry store. Pig manure characteristics were: 4.22%
DM and 4.22 XP, 2.27 XL, 10.72 XF, 45.67 NFE, 21.36 total N (all data given as g per kg
dry matter). For more details refer to [1].
Substance and energy turnover during anaerobic digestion were measured in three
replicates in 1 l eudiometer batch experiments at 38 to 40 8C, conducted according to DIN
38 414 [2]. Biogas quality (CH4, H2S, NH3) was analysed 10 times during the 6-week
digestion period. Substrates were analysed prior to digestion for pH, dry matter (DM),
crude protein (XP), crude fibre (XF), cellulose (Cel), hemi-cellulose (Hem), lignin (ADL),
crude fat (XL), starch (XS), sugar and ash (XA) with standard analysing procedures. For a
more detailed methodology description refer to [3].
Statistical data analysis was carried out with the software package SPSS, version 11.5.
Each treatment was measured in three replicates. In the first step, mean, standard deviation
and frequency distributions of the data were determined. Variance analysis methods were
applied to find significant differences in the means. The following tests and procedures
Table 1
Dairy cow feeding and performance and the resulting manure characteristics
Production system

Composition of dairy cow manure [g (kg DM)

Treatment Concentrate Hay Grass Maize Milk pH

silage silage yield
Intake [kg DM (cow day)
Dairy_1
Dairy_2
Dairy_3
Dairy_4
Dairy_5
Dairy_6

0.0
0.0
4.6
5.8
11.0
10.0

5.4
5.2
4.0
5.0
3.2
3.0

6.4
10.4
4.8
10.0
3.8
6.2

DM

XP

XF

XL

ADL

GE [MJ]

143.7
128.8
135.0
159.6
148.5
157.3

162.6
154.3
156.6
150.6
180.2
296.5

265.9
265.8
310.1
279.5
273.3
248.5

46.4
34.5
23.8
29.1
28.5
30.3

162.1
128.2
124.7
183.3
190.4
121.7

15.8
17.3
14.6
19.3
15.6
16.8

]
5.8
0.0
5.2
0.0
3.6
0.0

11.2
11.2
17.6
16.0
29.2
29.2

6.95
6.79
6.60
6.60
6.70
6.66

DM = dry matter; XP= crude protein; XF = crude fibre; XL= crude fat; ADL= lignin; GE = gross energy.
a
[g (kg FM) 1].

Th. Amon et al. / International Congress Series 1293 (2006) 217220

219

Fig. 1. Specific methane yield and standard deviation of contrasting dairy cow manures (different letters indicate
significant differences at p b 0.05; for treatment descriptions see Table 1).

were used: ANOVA and the one factorial post hoc tests bStudentNewmanKeulsQ and
bScheffeQ. Homogeneity of variances was analysed with the Levene test statistic. Normal
distribution was checked by the rule 0.9 b mean b 1.1 and 3s b mean.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Methane production from dairy cattle manure
Table 1 and Fig. 1 give the nutrient composition of the contrasting dairy cow manures
and the methane yield in norm litre per kg of volatile solids. The dairy cows of the
treatments: dairy_1 and dairy_2 had a low milk yield, dairy_3 and dairy_4 had a medium
milk yield, and dairy_5 and dairy_6 had a high milk yield. In each level of intensity,
manures with contrasting crude protein levels were produced. The manures with the higher
crude protein levels (dairy_1, 3, and 6) gave higher CH4 yields. Lignin in the manure
Table 2
CH4 yield from pig manure, maize silage and rapeseed meal and influence of glycerine supplementation
Treatment

100% glycerine
100% pig manure
94% pig manure,
6% glycerine
Basic mixture (BM)a
BM + 15% glycerine
BM + 8% glycerine
BM + 6% glycerine
BM + 3% glycerine
BM + 6% glycerine + 10%
rapeseed meal
a

Specific biogas yield

Specific CH4 yield

[Nl (kg VS)- 1]

S.D.

[Nl (kg VS)- 1]

S.D.

1295
412
1114

42.30
n.m.
27.82

750
216
617

81.85
n.m.
37.04

569
615
591
679
634
701

35.12
71.72
20.56
28.20
17.68
8.19

335
400
365
439
411
432

20.64
44.8
12.71
18.22
11.46
5.05

Basic mixture (BM) = 31% maize silage, 15% maize corns, 54% pig manure (basis: fresh matter).

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Th. Amon et al. / International Congress Series 1293 (2006) 217220

reduced the specific CH4 yield. The higher the concentrate level and milk yield, the greater
was the reduction in CH4 yield through an increase in lignin content. Manures of the
treatments dairy_3 and dairy_6 produced the highest specific CH4 yield. The cows of the
treatment dairy_6 were fed a protein-dominated diet which resulted in an increase in N
excretion. The diet of the treatment dairy_5 was well balanced in energy and protein
content. Feed conversion increased and nutrient excretion decreased. The manure of the
treatment dairy_5 showed the lowest specific methane yield.
3.2. Anaerobic digestion of pig manure and maize silage and effect of glycerine
supplementation
Increasing amounts of glycerine were added to pig manure, maize silage and rapeseed
meal and the resulting CH4 yield was measured (Table 2). The basic mixture produced 335
Nl CH4 (kg VS) 1. Supplementation of glycerine always resulted in an increase in CH4
production. A bco-fermentation effectQ was observed. The CH4 yield of the basic mixture
supplemented with glycerine was higher than the combined CH4 yields of both substrates
if digested separately. The co-fermentation effect was especially high with glycerine
additions of 36%.
4. Conclusions
Anaerobic digestibility of dairy cow manures is determined by the animals diet and
performance. Methane yields from dairy cow manure should not only be estimated with
one single default factor, but ratio composition and milk yield should be considered. This
is essential when estimating methane yields from agricultural biogas plants and when
setting up emission factors for inventory preparation.
Glycerine was found to increase the CH4 yield from anaerobic digestion of protein
dominated substrates (in our experiments: maize silage, rapeseed meal and pig manure).
For a stable digestion process, the amount of glycerine should not exceed 6%.
Acknowledgements
The work was funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,
Environment and Water Management, by Pioneer Saaten Ltd. Parndorf, by Raiffeisen
Ware Austria AG, by the Sudsteirische Energie und Eiweierzeugung Reg.Gen.m.b.H
Mureck SEEG, and within the scope of the Austrian Program on Technologies for
Sustainable Development, bEnergy systems of tomorrowQ. This program is an initiative of
the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT).
References
[1] V. Kryvoruchko, et al., Influence of nutrient composition on methane production from animal manures and
co-digestion with maize and glycerine, International Scientific Conference bBioecotechnologies and Biofuel
in AgroindustryQ, National Agrarian University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2004 (June 34), pp. 143 148.
[2] DIN 38 414, Bestimmung des Faulverhaltens bSchlamm und SedimenteQ, Beuth Verlag, Berlin, 1985.
[3] T. Amon et al., Biogas production from maize and dairy cattle manureinfluence of biomass composition on
the methane yield. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment (in press).