Original scientific paper
SUDAN GRASS - ENERGY CROP FOR BIOGAS PRODUCTION
Davor Kralik
; Poljoprivredni fakultet Sveučilišta u Osijeku, Osijek, Hrvatska
Ana-Marija Elter
; Poljoprivredni fakultet Sveučilišta u Osijeku, Osijek, Hrvatska
Srećko Kukić
; Bioplin - Baranja d.o.o., Bilje, Hrvatska
Nataša Uranjek
; Žito d.o.o., Osijek, Hrvatska
Robert Spajić
; Belje d.d., Darda, Hrvatska
Abstract
Because of its distinctly high yield, Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense L.) has become an interesting crop which can replace silage corn in biogas production plants. Sudan grass is an annual tall grass which gives distinctly high green mass yields that can be used as green fodder, hayage or silage. In conducted research, Sudan grass production amounted to 82 t/ha. Due to its high yield, it is possible to produce the same amount of silage on only 60% of land used for corn silage production. Sudan grass gives higher biomass yield than corn, and energetic potential for biogas production is the same. Pig manure was supplemented with 10% of Sudan grass (ST), and the control group (K) was pig manure without additives. All groups were set up in three repetitions. Anaerobic fermentation process proceeded discontinuously in mesophillic conditions (40 °C) with retention time lasting 60 days. Average total biogas production for substrate with addition of ST amounted to 13720 ml/l, and biogas production in the control group was 9320 ml/l. Sudan grass production will not jeopardize food production nor fodder crop production, because it gives produces higher biomass yield
than corn and is suitable for stubble fields. It was determined that Sudan grass utilization for improvement of manure in biogas production increased the amount of biogas by 32%. Significant differences in methane content between groups were not determined, i.e. biomass addition did not jeopardize biogas energetic value.
Keywords
biogas; Sudan grass; energy plants
Hrčak ID:
50750
URI
Publication date:
25.9.2009.
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