Gas Yields and Methane Contents for Various Substrates

Overview

• VS = Total volatile solids, e.g. ca. 9% of total liquid manure mass for cows

Substrate / Gas Yield / Methane Content

Table: Gas yields and methane contents for various substrates at the end of a 10-20 day retention time at a process temperature of roughly 30C.

Substrate	Gas yield (l/kg VS*)	Methane content (%)
Pig manure	340-550	65-70
Cow manure	90-310	65
Poultry droppings	310-620	60
Horse manure	200-300
Sheep manure	90-310
Barnyard dung	175-280
Wheat straw	200-300	50-60
Rye straw	200-300	59
Barley straw	250-300	59
Oats straw	290-310	59
Corn straw	380-460	59
Rape straw	200
Rice straw	170-280
Rice seed coat	105
Flax	360	59
Hemp	360	59
Grass	280-550	70
Elephant grass	430-560	60
Cane trash (bagasse)	165
Broom	405
Reed	170
Clover	430-490
Vegetables residue	330-360
Potato tops/greens	280-490
Field/sugar beet greens	400-500
Sunflower leaves	300	59
Agricultural waste	310-430	60-70
Seeds	620
Peanut shells	365
Fallen leaves	210-290	58
Water hyacinth	375
Algae	420-500	63
Sewage sludge	310-740

Further Information

• Biogas Portal on energypedia

References

• Production and Utilization of Biogas in Rural Areas of Industrialized and Developing Countries, Schriftenreihe der gtz, No. 97, pg. 63, after: Felix Maramba, Biogas and Waste Recycling - The Phillipine Experience; Metro Manila, Phillipines, 1978