Anaerobic digestion of spring and winter wheat: comparison of net energy yields

Rincon, Barbara, Heaven, Sonia, Salter, Andrew M. and Banks, Charles J. (2016) Anaerobic digestion of spring and winter wheat: comparison of net energy yields. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering, 1-6. (doi:10.1080/10934529.2016.1198634).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion of wheat was investigated under batch conditions. The article compares the potential net energy yield between a winter wheat (sown in the autumn) and a spring wheat (sown in the spring) grown in the same year and harvested at the same growth stage in the same farm. The spring wheat had a slightly higher biochemical methane potential and required lower energy inputs in cultivation, but produced a lower dry biomass yield per hectare, which resulted in winter wheat providing the best overall net energy yield. The difference was small; both varieties gave a good net energy yield. Spring sowing may also offer the opportunity for growing an additional over-winter catch crop for spring harvest, thus increasing the overall biomass yield per hectare, with both crops being potential digester feedstocks.

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