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Inoculation effects on microbial and methane dynamics in daily filled dairy manure storage.
Zhenhua Song1, Aditya Rawat1, Christiane Herrmann2
1Department of Sensors and Modeling, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), 14469 Potsdam, Germany.
Bioresource Technology
|May 10, 2026
Summary
Adding residual manure (inoculum) to continuously filled storage tanks accelerates methane (CH4) emissions by promoting beneficial microbial growth. This enhances early CH4 production and increases overall emissions in dairy farm manure management.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Liquid manure storage is a significant source of agricultural methane (CH4) emissions.
- Previous studies on manure inoculum effects used static systems, not reflecting continuous farm filling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of residual manure inoculum on microbial dynamics and CH4 generation in continuously filled dairy manure storage.
- To compare CH4 emission patterns and physicochemical properties between inoculated and uninoculated continuously filled systems.
Main Methods:
- Simulated daily continuous filling of dairy cattle manure in laboratory-scale tanks for 92 days.
- Assessed microbial community dynamics via 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- Monitored physicochemical properties and CH4 emissions, applying Modified Gompertz modeling.
Main Results:
- Inoculated tanks (WI) showed early enrichment of hydrolytic bacteria and methanogens, stable pH, and lower volatile fatty acids.
- WI tanks reached peak daily CH4 emissions earlier (day 31 vs. day 79) and had 17.9% higher cumulative CH4 emissions than uninoculated (WOI) tanks.
- Inoculation shortened the methanogenic lag phase by 20.64 days, accelerating CH4 emission dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Inoculation significantly alters microbial succession and accelerates CH4 emission trajectories in continuously filled manure storage systems.
- This study provides a framework for understanding and managing CH4 emissions from dairy manure, identifying key control periods.
- Findings highlight the importance of inoculum in mitigating or managing CH4 production under dynamic farm conditions.
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