Abstract
Crop residues collected during or after grain harvest are available once per year and must be stored for extended periods. The combination of air, high moisture, and high microbial loads leads to shrinkage during storage and risk of spontaneous ignition. Ensiling is a wet preservation method that could be used to store these residues stably. To economically adapt ensiling to biomass that is harvested after it has senesced, the need for nutrient, moisture, and microbial additions must be determined. We tested the ensiling of senesced wheat straw in sealed columns for 83 d. The straw was inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum and amended with several levels of water and free sugars. The ability to stabilize the straw polysaccharides was strongly influenced by both moisture and free sugars. Without the addition of sugar, the pH increased from 5.2 to as much as 9.1, depending on moisture level, and losses of 22% of the cellulose and 21% of the hemicellulose were observed. By contrast, when sufficient sugars were added and interstitial water was maintained, a final pH of 4.0 was attainable, with correspondingly low (<5%) losses of cellulose and hemicellulose. The results show that ensiling should be considered a promising method for stable storage of wet biorefinery feedstocks.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arthur D. Little, Inc. (2001), Final Report, United States Department of Energy, Reference No. 71038, Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, MA, http://www.adltechnology.com.
Energy Information Administration. (1996), DOE/EIA-0383(96), United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Sheehan, J. and Himmel, M. (1999), Biotechnol. Prog. 15(3), 817–827.
Office of Industrial Technologies. (1999), DOE/GO-10099-706, United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Office of the Biomass Program. (2003), DOE/NE-ID-11129, United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Kocsis, K. (1987), in Biomass Energy: From Harvest to Storage. Ferrero, G. L., Grassi, G., and Williams, H. E., eds., Elsevier Applied Science, London, UK, pp. 144–156.
Sokhansanj, S., Cushman, J., and Wright, L. (2003), Agric. Eng. Int. CIGR J. Sci. Res. Dev., vol. 5 (on-line), http://cigr-ejournal.tamu.edu.
Atchison, J. E. and Hettenhaus, J. R. (2003), Subcontract No. ACO-1-31042-01, NREL, Golden, CO.
Gray, B. F., Griffiths, J. F., and Hasko, S. M. (1984), J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol. 34A, 453–463.
Shinners, K. J., Binversie, B. N., and Savoie, P. (2003), Paper 036088 in Proceedings of the 2003 ASAE Annual Meeting, ASAE, St. Joseph, MI.
Wilkinson, J. M., Bolsen, K. K., and Lin, C. J. (2003), in Silage Science and Technology Agronomy Monograph 42, Buxton, D. R., Muck, R. E., and Harrison, J. H. eds., ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI, pp. 1–30.
Woolford, M. K. (1985), in Microbiology of Fermented Foods, vol. 2, Wood, B. J. B., ed., Elsevier Applied Science, New York, pp. 85–112.
Rotz, C. A. and Muck, R. E. (1994), in Forage Quality, Evaluation, and Utilization, Fahey, G.C. Jr. ed., ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI, pp. 828–868.
Buxton, D. R., Muck, R. E., and Harrison, J. H. (eds.). (2003), Silage Science and Technology, Agronomy Monograph 42, ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Madison, WI.
Ohmomo, S., Tanaka, O., Kitamoto, H. K., and Cai, Y. (2002), JARQ 36(2), 59–71.
Roberts, C. A. (1995), in Post-Harvest Physiology and Preservation of Forages, CSSA Special Publication 22, Moore, K. J. and Peterson, M. A., eds., CSSA-ASA, Madison, WI, pp. 21–38.
Buxton, D. R. and O’Kiely, P. O. (2003), in Silage Science and Technology, Agronomy Monograph No. 42, Buxton, D. R., Muck, R. E., and Harrison, J. H. eds., ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI, pp. 199–250.
Muck, R. E., Moser, L. E., and Pitt, R. E. (2003), in Silage Science and Technology. Agronomy Monograph 42, Buxton, D. R., Muck, R. E., and Harrison, J. H. eds., ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI, pp. 250–304.
Pahlow, G., Muck, R. E., Driehus, F., Oude Elferink, S. J. W. H., and Spoelstra, S. F. (2003), in Silage Science and Technology, Agronomy Monograph 42, Buxton, D. R., Muck, R. E., and Harrison, J. H., eds., ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Madison, WI, pp. 31–93.
Kung L., Jr., Stokes, M. R., and Lin, C. J. (2003), in Silage Science and Technology, Agronomy Monograph 42, Buxton, D. R., Muck, R. E., and Harrison, J. H. eds., ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI, pp. 305–360.
Thompson, D. N., Lacey, J. A., and Shaw, P. G. (2003), Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 105–108, 205–218.
Saeman, J. F., Bubl, J. L., and Harris, E. E. (1945), Ind. Eng. Chem. 17, 35–37.
Thompson, D. N., Chen, H.-C., and Grethlein, H. E. (1992), Bioresour. Technol. 39, 155–163.
United States Sugar Corporation. (2001), Molasses Composition, United States Sugar Corporation, Molasses & Liquid Feeds Division, Clewiston, FL, http://www.sugalik.com/molasses/composition.html.
Moon, N. J., Ely, L. O., and Sudweeks, E. M. (1985), US patent 4,528,199.
Moon, N. J., Ely, L. O., and Sudweeks, E. M. (1981), J. Dairy Sci. 64(5), 807–813.
Jarvis, B. (1973), J. Appl. Bacteriol. 36(4), 723–727.
Weiss, W. P., Chamberlain, D. G., and Hunt, C. W. (2003), in Silage Science and Technology, Agronomy Monograph 42, Buxton, D. R., Muck, R. E., and Harrison, J. H., eds., ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI. pp. 469–504.
Holzer, M., Mayrhuber, E., Danner, H., and Braun, R. (2003), Trends Biotechnol. 21(6), 282–287.
McDonald, P., Henderson, A. R., and Heron, S. E. (1991), The Biochemistry of Silage, Chalcombe Publications, Marlo, UK.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thompson, D.N., Barnes, J.M. & Houghton, T.P. Effect of additions on ensiling and microbial community of senesced wheat straw. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 121, 21–46 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1385/ABAB:121:1-3:0021
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/ABAB:121:1-3:0021