Seasonal and storage effects on characteristics and anaerobic digestibility of cattle manure

Abstract

Cattle manure (CM) management poses challenges due to its large volume and environmental risks, and the anaerobic digestion (AD) of CM is highly influenced by diverse environmental factors. This study explored the effects of seasonal, breed, and storage on the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of CM and the performance of AD using samples from five cattle sheds over four seasons. Methane yield (YM) (99.0-270.8 L CH4/kg VS) was highest in winter and lowest in summer, with seasonal temperature showing strong negative correlations with YM (r =- 0.6) and anaerobic biodegradability index (r =- 0.8). Cattle breed showed no significant effect, whereas high lignocellulose and prolonged hot storage reduced readily biodegradable organics. Microbial analysis revealed functional communities, including hydrogenotrophic methanogens and lignocellu-lose degraders, supporting AD performance. This study provides integrated insight into CM as an AD substrate, with practical implications for sustainable management and energy recovery.