Biogas production from maize hybrids

There is an increasing world wide demand for energy crops and animal manures for biogas production. This research project was aimed at optimising anaerobic digestion of maize, using a laboratory digester, and finding out which maturity class of corn and which hybrid of a particular maturity class produces the highest rate of biogas and biomethane. Also the chemical composition of gases was studied. The corn hybrids of FAO 300 – FAO 400, FAO 400 – FAO 500 and FAO 500 – FAO 600 maturity class were tested. Experiments took place in the lab for 35 days within four series of experiments with four repetitions according to the method DIN 38 414. Results show that the highest maturity class of corn (FAO 400, FAO 500) increases the amount of biomethane. The greatest gain of biomethane per hectare according to maturity class is found with hybrids of FAO 400 (7768.4 Nm3 ha−1) and FAO 500 (7050.1 Nm3 ha−1) maturity class. Among the corn hybrids of maturity class FAO 300 – FAO 400, the hybrid PR38F70 gives the greatest production of biomethane per hectare (7646.2 Nm3 ha−1). Among the hybrids of maturity class FAO 400 – FAO 500, the greatest amount of biomethane was achieved by the hybrid PIXXIA (9440.6 Nm3 ha−1). Among the hybrids of maturity class FAO 500 – FAO 600 the hybrid CODISTAR (FAO 500) gives the highest production of biomethane (8562.7 Nm3 ha−1). Production of biomethane varied with corn hybrids from 50 to 60% of produced biogas.