Ensilage and Secondary Fermentation of Maize Stalk and Their Effect on Methane Production and Microbial Community Dynamics in Anaerobic Digestion
Ensilage is an efficient storage method for preserving maize stalks for use as biogas feedstocks. However, maize stalk silages are susceptible to secondary fermentation, which degrades feedstock quality. This study explored the effects of ensilage and secondary fermentation on methane production fro...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Huan Zhang Puxiang Yan Ziyao Qin Xiaoling Zhao Xufeng Yuan Zongjun Cui Jingwei Wu |
| author_facet | Huan Zhang Puxiang Yan Ziyao Qin Xiaoling Zhao Xufeng Yuan Zongjun Cui Jingwei Wu |
| author_sort | Huan Zhang |
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| description | Ensilage is an efficient storage method for preserving maize stalks for use as biogas feedstocks. However, maize stalk silages are susceptible to secondary fermentation, which degrades feedstock quality. This study explored the effects of ensilage and secondary fermentation on methane production from maize stalk and microbial community dynamics in anaerobic digestion (AD). Both ensilage and secondary fermentation decreased the specific methane yield (SMY) of maize stalks. Ensilage inhibited the acidogenesis process in AD. Secondary fermentation reduced bacterial richness and hydrolytic activity, and thus decreased the SMY of silage. After 6 months of ensilage, 97.06% organic dry matter (ODM) and 94.28% methane yield were preserved. SF greatly reduced the storage efficiency by causing 34.11% ODM loss and 52.60% methane yield loss in 40 days. Losses in ODM or methane yield during air exposure followed the Zwietering-modified Gompertz model. Metagenomic analysis showed a shift from <i>Ruminoccoccaceae</i> and <i>Lachnospiraceae</i> to <i>Rikenellaceae</i> in AD of maize stalk silage following secondary fermentation. <i>Carnobacteriaceae</i>, <i>Moraxellaceae</i>, <i>Lachnospiraceae</i>, <i>Porphyromonadaceae</i>, and <i>Corynebacteriaceae</i> were positively correlated with the content of water-soluble carbohydrates, whereas <i>Anaerolineaceae</i> and <i>Ruminococcaceae</i> were positively correlated with total organic acid content in stalks. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Fermentation |
| spelling | doaj-art-ef9f5f2cdec74d509d6fa7bfa478839e2025-08-20T03:27:10ZengMDPI AGFermentation2311-56372025-05-0111630910.3390/fermentation11060309Ensilage and Secondary Fermentation of Maize Stalk and Their Effect on Methane Production and Microbial Community Dynamics in Anaerobic DigestionHuan Zhang0Puxiang Yan1Ziyao Qin2Xiaoling Zhao3Xufeng Yuan4Zongjun Cui5Jingwei Wu6Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Restoration of Damaged Coastal Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, ChinaDepartment of Bioenergy Engineering, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDepartment of Bioenergy Engineering, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDepartment of Bioenergy Engineering, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDepartment of Bioenergy Engineering, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDepartment of Bioenergy Engineering, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaZhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Biomass Resources Development and Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, ChinaEnsilage is an efficient storage method for preserving maize stalks for use as biogas feedstocks. However, maize stalk silages are susceptible to secondary fermentation, which degrades feedstock quality. This study explored the effects of ensilage and secondary fermentation on methane production from maize stalk and microbial community dynamics in anaerobic digestion (AD). Both ensilage and secondary fermentation decreased the specific methane yield (SMY) of maize stalks. Ensilage inhibited the acidogenesis process in AD. Secondary fermentation reduced bacterial richness and hydrolytic activity, and thus decreased the SMY of silage. After 6 months of ensilage, 97.06% organic dry matter (ODM) and 94.28% methane yield were preserved. SF greatly reduced the storage efficiency by causing 34.11% ODM loss and 52.60% methane yield loss in 40 days. Losses in ODM or methane yield during air exposure followed the Zwietering-modified Gompertz model. Metagenomic analysis showed a shift from <i>Ruminoccoccaceae</i> and <i>Lachnospiraceae</i> to <i>Rikenellaceae</i> in AD of maize stalk silage following secondary fermentation. <i>Carnobacteriaceae</i>, <i>Moraxellaceae</i>, <i>Lachnospiraceae</i>, <i>Porphyromonadaceae</i>, and <i>Corynebacteriaceae</i> were positively correlated with the content of water-soluble carbohydrates, whereas <i>Anaerolineaceae</i> and <i>Ruminococcaceae</i> were positively correlated with total organic acid content in stalks.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/6/309stalk silagesecondary fermentationanaerobic digestionmicrobial communitymethane yield |
| spellingShingle | Huan Zhang Puxiang Yan Ziyao Qin Xiaoling Zhao Xufeng Yuan Zongjun Cui Jingwei Wu Ensilage and Secondary Fermentation of Maize Stalk and Their Effect on Methane Production and Microbial Community Dynamics in Anaerobic Digestion Fermentation stalk silage secondary fermentation anaerobic digestion microbial community methane yield |
| title | Ensilage and Secondary Fermentation of Maize Stalk and Their Effect on Methane Production and Microbial Community Dynamics in Anaerobic Digestion |
| title_full | Ensilage and Secondary Fermentation of Maize Stalk and Their Effect on Methane Production and Microbial Community Dynamics in Anaerobic Digestion |
| title_fullStr | Ensilage and Secondary Fermentation of Maize Stalk and Their Effect on Methane Production and Microbial Community Dynamics in Anaerobic Digestion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ensilage and Secondary Fermentation of Maize Stalk and Their Effect on Methane Production and Microbial Community Dynamics in Anaerobic Digestion |
| title_short | Ensilage and Secondary Fermentation of Maize Stalk and Their Effect on Methane Production and Microbial Community Dynamics in Anaerobic Digestion |
| title_sort | ensilage and secondary fermentation of maize stalk and their effect on methane production and microbial community dynamics in anaerobic digestion |
| topic | stalk silage secondary fermentation anaerobic digestion microbial community methane yield |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/6/309 |
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