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Updated: Apr 23, 2026
Metagenomic Analysis of Silage
Published on: January 13, 2017
The effect of trace element addition to mono-digestion of grass silage at high organic loading rates
David M Wall1, Eoin Allen2, Barbara Straccialini3
1Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Engineering, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
Abstract:
This study investigated the effect of trace element addition to mono-digestion of grass silage at high organic loading rates. Two continuous reactors were compared. The first mono-digested grass silage whilst the second operated in co-digestion, 80% grass silage with 20% dairy slurry (VS basis). The reactors were run for 65weeks with a further 5weeks taken for trace element supplementation for the mono-digestion of grass silage. The co-digestion reactor reported a higher biomethane efficiency (1.01) than mono-digestion (0.90) at an OLR of 4.0kgVSm(-3)d(-1) prior to addition of trace elements. Addition of cobalt, iron and nickel, led to an increase in the SMY in mono-digestion of grass silage by 12% to 404LCH4kg(-1)VS and attained a biomethane efficiency of 1.01.
