Digestibility Of Maize Research Articles

Economics of GHG emissions mitigation via biogas production from Sorghum, maize and dairy farm manure digestion in the Po valley

The Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic feasibility of electricity production from the anaerobic digestion of different substrates are studied in this paper. Three realistic substrate options for the climatic and soil conditions of a modelled farm in the Po Valley in Italy are analysed: manure from a dairy farm, Sorghum and maize.A detailed cost analysis is performed with field data provided by farmers and suppliers and literature sources. The capital costs (CAPEX) and the operational costs (OPEX), disaggregated by their components, are presented. Investment payback time is then calculated for the different substrates and technologies, while taking into account the Italian government feed-in tariff scheme for biogas plants implemented in 2013.In the specific conditions assumed, electricity production via anaerobic digestion of manure and co-digestion of manure with at most 30% Sorghum (no till) provide both GHG savings (in comparison to the Italian electricity mix) and profit for economic operators.The anaerobic digestion of silage maize or Sorghum alone, instead, provides no (or very limited) GHG savings, and, with the current feed-in tariffs, generates economic losses.Both economic and environmental performance are improved by the following practices: cultivating Sorghum instead of maize; implementing no till agriculture; and installing gas-tight tanks for digestate storage. A tool allowing a customised calculation of the economic performances of biogas plants is provided.

USO DE LA TÉCNICA DE LA BOLSA DE NYLON MOVIL PARA MEDIR DIGESTIBILIDAD IN SITU DE ALGUNOS INSUMOS Y AGUACATE EN CERDOS

<p>The mobile nylon bag technique was used for measuring <em>in situ</em> digestibility of conventional feeds and avocado (<em>Persea americana Mills</em>) products in three 70 kg pigs fitted with a simple cannula in duodenum. One 3x3 Latin square was used for determining <em>in situ</em> digestibility of soybean, maize and sorghum meal and another 3x3 Latin square for measuring <em>in situ</em> digestibility of seed, peel plus seed meal and the entire Nayaritean avocado fruit of Hass type, as well as of the commercial diet given <em>ad libitum</em> to animals. In a preliminary test conducted with only bags containing a commercial feedstuff, it was found that <em>in situ</em> digestibility of DM was on average 73.01%. In conventional feeds, soybean meal samples showed higher (P<0.05) <em>in situ</em> digestibility values for DM, NDF and N, than those of maize and sorghum. Among avocado products, the seeds showed a higher nutritive value than peels plus seeds, whereas the entire fruit had higher (P<0.05) <em>in situ</em> digestibility for DM and NDF than the other two avocado products. There were not significant differences (P>0.05) for N digestibility among avocado products, which was generally low (between 28.02 and 34.58%). <em>In situ</em> organic matter digestibility was linked to that of MS (r = 0.915; P<0.001), both in percent, in 42 examined samples, by the following found equation: y = 2.076 + 0.926 x. The herein described studies concerning the utilization of the mobile bag showed that it is possible to obtain a fast response in connection to the nutritive value of non conventional, tropical alimentary resources for pigs. On the other hand, the continuation of studies relative to the nutritive value of avocado products for pigs is highly recommended.</p>

Measurement of true ileal phosphorus digestibility in maize and soybean meal for broiler chickens: Comparison of two methodologies

An experiment was conducted to determine the true ileal P digestibility of maize and soybean meal for broiler chickens using two methodologies based on the regression method. The two methods differed in dietary protein content and dietary Ca:P ratios in the assay diets used. In Method 1, the test ingredient was used as the sole dietary source of protein and P and a dietary Ca:non-phytate P ratio of around 2:1 was maintained by the addition of limestone. In Method 2, dried egg albumen was used as the additional protein supplement and a dietary Ca:total P ratio of 1.3:1 was maintained by the addition of limestone. For the maize-based diets, disodium phosphate was used as an additional P supplement. Two sets of sequential semi-purified diets containing 200, 460 and 720g/kg of maize or 400, 510 and 620g/kg of soybean meal were formulated. Each set was evaluated as a 2×3 factorial arrangement of treatments, which included two methods and three inclusion levels. The experiment was conducted as a randomised complete block design and a total of 288 of 21-day old male broilers (Ross 308) were assigned to four blocks based on body weights. Each block had 12 cages (six birds per cage) and the 12 test diets were assigned to a cage within each block. Apparent ileal digestibility coefficient of P was determined by the indicator method and linear regression was used to determine true ileal P digestibility. In both methods, ileal P output and ileal digestible P increased linearly with increasing inclusion levels of maize (P<0.01) and soybean meal (P<0.001). Apparent ileal P digestibility coefficients of P determined for maize were higher (P<0.001) in Method 2 compared with Method 1 whereas the opposite trend was observed for soybean meal. True ileal P digestibility coefficients determined for maize in Methods 1 and 2 were 0.728 and 0.426, respectively, and were different (P<0.01). True ileal P digestibility coefficients determined for soybean meal in Methods 1 and 2 were 0.740 and 0.523, respectively, and were different (P<0.01). The present findings showed that estimation of true ileal P digestibility in maize and soybean meal was influenced by the assay methodology employed.

Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Maize and Sorghum as Affected by Popping

The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the impact of popping on the physical, nutritional and pasting characteristics of maize and sorghum. The bulk and true densities of both the maize and sorghum flour were observed significantly (P < 0.01) higher as compared to popped maize and sorghum flour. The water absorption and solubility index were higher for the popped grain flours due to porous structure. Water absorption index of maize grain increased upon popping from 302.7 ± 8.86 to 418.33 ± 9.77 and from 233.93 ± 4.04 to 397.57 ± 8.55 for sorghum grain. The peak, breakdown, final and setback viscosity values were lower for the popped flours. The lightness value of popped maize flour was significantly (p < 0.01) higher and ‘a’ and ‘b’ values were significantly (p < 0.01) lower than un-popped maize flour. However, in case of sorghum, popping exhibited reverse behaviour in terms of colour characteristics by causing a decrease in lightness and increase in a value, b value and chroma. In vitro protein digestibility of maize and sorghum increased significantly (p < 0.01) from 47.25 to 59.30 and 40.71 to 48.67 %, respectively after popping. Significant (p < 0.01) decrease in carotenoid, moisture content and increase in protein and carbohydrate content was observed upon popping.

Dynamic variation of the microbial community structure during the long-time mono-fermentation of maize and sugar beet silage.

This study investigated the development of the microbial community during a long-term (337 days) anaerobic digestion of maize and sugar beet silage, two feedstocks that significantly differ in their chemical composition. For the characterization of the microbial dynamics, the community profiling method terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) in combination with a cloning-sequencing approach was applied.Our results revealed a specific adaptation of the microbial community to the supplied feedstocks. Based on the high amount of complex compounds, the anaerobic conversion rate of maize silage was slightly lower compared with the sugar beet silage. It was demonstrated that members from the phylum Bacteroidetes are mainly involved in the degradation of low molecular weight substances such as sugar, ethanol and acetate, the main compounds of the sugar beet silage. It was further shown that species of the genus Methanosaeta are highly sensitive against sudden stress situations such as a strong decrease in the ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) concentration or a drop of the pH value. In both cases, a functional compensation by members of the genera Methanoculleus and/or Methanosarcina was detected. However, the overall biomass conversion of both feedstocks proceeded efficiently as a steady state between acid production and consumption was recorded, which further resulted in an equal biogas yield.

Humic Acid-Like and Fulvic Acid-Like Inhibition on the Hydrolysis of Cellulose and Tributyrin

Enzymatic hydrolysis of complex wastes is a critical step for efficient biogas production in anaerobic digesters. Inhibition of this hydrolytic step was studied by addition of humic acid-like (HAL) and fulvic acid-like (FAL) substances, extracted from maize silage and fresh cow manure, to batch tests with cellulose and cellulases from Aspergillus niger and tributyrin and lipases from Candida rugosa. To confirm the inhibition results, microbially catalysed hydrolysis trials were performed, where Fibrobacter succinogenes was grown exclusively on cellulose. Hydrolysis products, as glucose, glycerol and butyric acid, were measured to determine the hydrolysis efficiency and its rate. Cellulose hydrolysis was inhibited by 0.5 to 5.0 g l−1 of HAL and FAL substances extracted from maize and cow manure, which are relevant concentrations for manure and maize digestion. Tributyrin hydrolysis, on the other hand, was only inhibited by 0.5 to 5.0 g l−1 of HAL substances extracted from maize and cow manure and not by FAL substances.

Critical comparison of different model structures for the applied simulation of the anaerobic digestion of agricultural energy crops

Different model structures were compared to simulate the characteristic process variables of the anaerobic digestion of maize, sugar beet and grain silage. Depending on the type and number of the required components, it can be shown that in comparison to the complex Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) different simplified model structures can describe the gas production rate, ammonia nitrogen and acetate concentration or pH value equally well. Since the reduction of the predominantly fast kinetics of the methanogenesis, acetogenesis or acidogenesis will only have little effect on the simulation of the specific gas production, it can be proven that the hydrolysis is the rate-limiting step during the uninhibited anaerobic digestion of complex particulate substrates. However, the stoichiometric comparison reveals that the model protein gelatine is not suitable for a representative characterization of agricultural energy crops.

The interplay of α-amylase and amyloglucosidase activities on the digestion of starch in in vitro enzymic systems

In vitro hydrolysis assays are a key tool in understanding differences in rate and extent of digestion of starchy foods. They offer a greater degree of simplicity and flexibility than dynamic in vitro models or in vivo experiments for quantifiable, mechanistic exploration of starch digestion. In the present work the influence of α-amylase and amyloglucosidase activities on the digestion of maize and potato starch granules was measured using both glucose and reducing sugar assays. Data were analysed through initial rates of digestion, and by 1st order kinetics, utilising logarithm of slope (LOS) plots. The rate and extent of starch digestion was dependent on the activities of both enzymes and the type of starch used. Potato required more enzyme than maize to achieve logarithmic reaction curves, and complete digestion. The results allow targeted design of starch digestion experiments through a thorough understanding of the contributions of α-amylase and amyloglucosidase to digestion rates.

FORAGES AND PASTURES SYMPOSIUM: Development of and field experience with drought-tolerant maize1

Drought-tolerant maize hybrids currently are being marketed by several seed suppliers. Such hybrids were developed by phenotypic and marker-assisted selection or through genetic modification and tested by exposing these hybrids to various degrees of water restriction. As drought intensifies, crop yields and survival progressively decline. Water need differs among plants due to differences in root structure, evaporative loss, capacity to store water or enter temporary dormancy, and plant genetics. Availability of water differs widely not only with rainfall and irrigation but also with numerous soil and agronomic factors (e.g., soil type, slope, seeding rates, tillage practices). Reduced weed competition, enhanced pollen shed and silk production, and deep, robust root growth help to reduce the negative impacts of drought. Selected drought-tolerant maize hybrids have consistently yielded more grain even when drought conditions are not apparent either due to reduced use of soil water reserves before water restriction or due to greater tolerance of intermittent water shortages. In DuPont Pioneer trials, whole plant NDF digestibility of maize increased with water restriction, perhaps due to an increased leaf to stem ratio. Efficiency of water use, measured as dry matter or potential milk yield from silage per unit of available water, responded quadratically to water restriction, first increasing slightly but then decreasing as water restriction increased. For grain production, water restriction has its greatest negative impact during or after silking through reducing the number of kernels and reducing kernel filling. For silage production, water restriction during the vegetative growth stage negatively impacts plant height and biomass yield. Earlier planting and shorter season maize hybrids help to avoid midsummer heat stress during pollination and can reduce the number of irrigation events needed. Although drought tolerance of maize hybrids has been improved due to genetic selection or biotech approaches, selecting locally adapted hybrids or crops, adjusting seeding rates, and modifying tillage and irrigation practices are important factors that can improve efficiency of use of available water by grain and forage crops.

The effects of dietary carbohydrate sources and forms on metabolic response and intestinal microbiota in sea bass juveniles, Dicentrarchus labrax

The aim of this work was to investigate the catabolic process of three kinds of dietary carbohydrates in the gut of sea bass juveniles, with the possible contribution of the intestinal microbiota to the nutrition of the host, and the subsequent effects on intermediary metabolism. A first diet contained waxy maize (99% amylopectin), a highly digestible form of starch. A second diet was less quickly digestible due to its high amylose content of resistant starch. Two other diets contained fibre instead of starch, either only cellulose as control, or also other non-starch polysaccharides brought by lupin meal. The effect of the diets on the host confirmed previous results, with the stimulation of glucose storage in the liver in sea bass fed the starchy diets, which caused a significant increase in liver weight, while lupin meal caused an increase in visceral mass. Glycaemia was higher 7 ± 1 h after the last meal in the group fed resistant starch, compared to the other dietary groups, while the fast digestion of waxy maize resulted already in hypertriglyceridemia, possibly due to hepatic neolipogenesis. At the same sampling time, the activity of free amylase was reduced in the intestine of sea bass fed resistant starch, but maltase activity was stimulated in the brush border membranes of enterocytes in the same group, confirming thus the timely digestion of resistant starch. Hepatic mRNA transcripts indicated that glucose metabolism was oriented towards neoglucogenesis by the high-fibre diets, and towards glucose storage by the starchy diets, especially with waxy maize. The diet influenced both faecal and mucosal microbiota, though in different ways, likely due to the interaction with the host. Lupin meal seemed potentially interesting as a source of prebiotic polysaccharides, by modifying the balance between Vibrio spp. and Clostridium sp. Both forms of starch were also partly metabolised by microbiota, resulting in an increased concentration of acetate in the faeces. • The diet of sea bass juveniles can contain at least 25% starch. • The metabolic response to dietary carbohydrates is flexible. • More than 30% lupin meal can be introduced, with possible prebiotic effect. • Intestinal microbiota is influenced by the diet. • Microbes contribute to starch digestion, as shown by acetate production in faeces.

Anaerobic digestion of maize and cellulose under thermophilic and mesophilic conditions – A comparative study

The aim of this study was to advance in understanding of digestion process of energy crops. Cellulose and maize silage were fermented in batch mode at mesophilic (38 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) conditions and corresponding organic loads of 5.5 ± 0.2 kgVS/m3, 11.2 ± 0.3 kgVS/m3 and 16.7 ± 0.4 kgVS/m3.For both substrates more stable and faster digestion took place at 38 °C. Due to complex structure maize degradation was characterized by varying digestion rate and longer total digestion time resulting form breakdown of hard-degradable fractions. The digestion retard at increased OLRs of cellulose and lower degradation level obtained for all cellulose series confirm a higher overloading potential for systems dealing with single-component-substrates but also the enhanced sensitivity of such systems to any inconvenient digestion conditions.Based on observed patterns of volatile fatty acids and oxidation-reduction potential, different fermentation mechanisms can be concluded for cellulose and maize, but also for different temperature modes. Conversion of maize at highly reductive conditions with increased concentrations of butyric acid was accompanied by much higher activity of hydrogenotrophic methanogens than for cellulose digestion.Two factors showed a strong potential to influence test results: an insufficient VS content of inoculum, which caused reduced biogas yields, and a high natural biodiversity of maize silage, resulting in higher biogas yields than calculated based on the maize composition.

Effect of increasing the organic loading rate on the co-digestion and mono-digestion of cattle slurry and maize

Co-digestion of cattle slurry and maize has been shown to have benefits for both, improving the biogas yield of the slurry and stability of digestion of the maize. The effect of increasing the total loading rate from 3 to 6 g VS l(-1) day(-1) on the co-digestion of cattle slurry and maize, mixed at equal volatile solids volumes, was investigated in laboratory-scale continuously stirred digesters. These were compared with similar digesters evaluating the increase of 1.5 to 3 g VS l(-1) day(-1) loading rates of slurry and maize digested separately. Compared with mono-digestion of the substrates, where the digestion of maize failed at loading rates greater than 2.5 g VS l(-1) day(-1), the co-digestion of cattle slurry and maize was feasible at all the loading rates tested with an increase in the volumetric methane yield occurring with loading rate. Even at the lowest rate of loading, the addition of equal amounts of volatile solids of maize to slurry leads to an increase in volumetric methane yield of 219%.

Slow-release amylase increases in vitro ruminal digestion of maize and sorghum grain

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of slow-release α-amylase in ruminal in vitro digestion of maize and sorghum grains. Digestibility was measured using an in vitro procedure with 40 mL of buffer and 10 mL of ruminal fluid, flushed with CO 2 and incubated at 39 °C. The digestibility of sorghum and maize grain was measured after 6 and 12 hours of fermentation with or without exogenous α-amylase in powder form or dispersed in a matrix system for slow release by a diffusional mechanism. Tablets were used as the drug release matrix system, and were formulated with barium sulphate and ethylcellulose as the core of the final tablet. Treatments consisted of incubation of sorghum or maize grains with four doses of enzyme, using α-amylase in powder or in the press-coated tablet (16 treatments). The results showed that with a higher dose of exogenous enzyme, the digestibility of the grains was improved. Sorghum and maize digestion with tablets were improved compared with α-amylase in powder form. Releasing α-amylase from matrix tablets represents a potential technology to improve grain digestion in ruminants. Keywords: Enzymes, slow-release, grains, digestibility, rumen

Anaerobic production of biogas from maize wastes

A study on the anaerobic digestion of maize wastes that are being indiscriminately dumped on Nigerian urban streets was undertaken. Maize chaffs, stalks and cobs were shredded and mixed in water to waste ratios ranging from 3:1 to 4:1 (water to wastes) and anaerobically digested in three separate 0.1 m3 digesters for 30 days. Some physco-chemical and microbiological analyses of the digesting substrates were carried out during the 30 days retention period to evaluate the progress of digestion. Results obtained show that even though maize chaffs, stalks and cobs have the potential to generate biogas, the chaffs produced more biogas than the other two wastes. It was also observed that the chaffs generated more methane gas than the other two and was the earliest to flame when tested. Key words: Biogas, waste, anaerobes, digesters, maize.

Phytoremediation, a sustainable remediation technology? Conclusions from a case study. I: Energy production and carbon dioxide abatement

This study examines the renewable energy production of crops used for phytoremediation. Our analysis is based on a case study in the Campine region (Belgium and The Netherlands), where agricultural soils are diffusely contaminated with cadmium, lead, and zinc, with an enhanced risk for uptake of these metals in crops and leaching to the groundwater. However, the area has such a large extent (700 km2) that conventional remediation is not applicable. Cultivation of crops for energy purposes on such land offers the opportunity to come up with an approach that efficiently uses contaminated agricultural land and that can be beneficial for both farmer and society. Performing a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), we examined the energy and CO2 abatement potential of willow (Salix spp.), silage maize (Zea mays L.), and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) originating from contaminated land. Taking into account the marginal impact of the metals in the biomass on the energy conversion efficiency and on the potential use of the biomass and its rest products after conversion, digestion of silage maize with combustion of the contaminated digestate shows the best energetic and CO2 abating perspectives. The replacement of cokes based electricity by willow is more efficient in CO2 abatement than willow used in a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit, despite lower net energy production in the former option. Willow reaches the same energy production and same CO2 abatement per hectare per year as silage maize when its biomass yield is respectively 13 and 8.7 Mg dm ha−1 y−1.

Stem characteristics of two forage maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars varying in whole plant digestibility. IV. Changes during the growing season in anatomy and chemical composition in relation to fermentation characteristics of a lower internode

Improving digestibility of forage maize (Zea mays L.) through breeding is important to optimize the efficiency of ruminant's rations. It can partly be achieved by improving the digestibility of stem tissue, a genetically complex and diverse trait changing drastically during the growing season. We tried to gain insight into this trait by analysing the changes during the growing season in the anatomy, chemical composition and fermentation characteristics of a lower internode (internode 7) of two forage maize cultivars differing in whole plant digestibility. These two cultivars, known to differ in digestibility, were grown in the Netherlands for two growing seasons. Cell wall thickness of the sclerenchyma tissue in the rind of internode 7 increased linearly with the temperature sum until reaching final cell wall thickness several days before anthesis. Volens, the less digestible cultivar, had a higher final cell wall thickness than Vitaro, the cultivar with a better digestibility. Chemical analyses included determination of NDF, ADF, ADL, crude protein, sugar content, and ash. Lignin content increased until shortly after anthesis in both cultivars, in both years. Lignin content was higher for Volens than for Vitaro and higher in 2000 than in 1999. Crude protein content decreased from 15–21% in early July to 2–5% in late September with no clear differences between cultivars or years. Fermentation characteristics showed that maximum gas production of cell wall components was highest immediately before anthesis and subsequently decreased. At all stages of development, Vitaro had a higher maximum gas production than Volens. The cultivar differences in digestibility could not be confirmed by differences in rate of cell wall disappearance. Seasonal changes showed an increase in fermentable cell wall material until anthesis; thereafter fermentability decreased. Differences in cell wall thickness and in lignin content reflected the changes in digestibility during the growing season best; the differences between the two contrasting cultivars were best reflected by the differences in cell wall thickness, lignin content and the decline of the potential digestibility in the period before anthesis.

Economic Viability of Phytoremediation of a Cadmium Contaminated Agricultural Area Using Energy Maize. Part I: Effect on the Farmer's Income

This paper deals with the economic viability of using energy maize as a phytoremediation crop in a vast agricultural area moderately contaminated with metals. The acceptance of phytoremediation as a remediation technology is, besides the extraction rate, determined by its profitability, being the effects it has on the income of the farmer whose land is contaminated. This income can be supported by producing renewable energy through anaerobic digestion of energy maize, a crop that takes up only relatively low amounts of metals, but that can be valorised as a feedstock for energy production. The effect on the income per hectare of growing energy maize instead of fodder maize seems positive, given the most likely values of variables and while keeping the basic income stable, originating from dairy cattle farming activities. We propose growing energy maize aiming at risk-reduction, and generating an alternative income for farmers, yet in the long run also generating a gradual reduction of the pollution levels. In this way, remediation is demoted to a secondary objective with sustainable risk-based land use as primary objective.

Characterization of an anaerobic population digesting a model substrate for maize in the presence of trace metals

The influence of a defined trace metal solution and additionally Ni2+ on anaerobic digestion of biomass was investigated. A novel synthetic model substrate was designed consisting of cellulose, starch and urea as carbon and nitrogen source in a ratio mimicking the basic composition of maize silage. Two independent batch fermentations were carried out over 21d with the synthetic model substrate in the presence of the trace metal solution. Particularly an increase in nickel concentrations (17 and 34μM) enhanced methane formation by up to 20%. This increased activity was also corroborated by fluorescence microscopy measurements based on cofactor F420. The eubacterial and methanogenic population was characterized with the single strand conformational polymorphism analysis and the amplified 16S rDNA restriction analysis of 16S rRNA genes amplified by different primer systems. Nearly the half of the analyzed bacteria were identified as Firmicutes while 70% in this phylum belonged to the class of Clostridiales and 30% to the class of Bacilli. Bacteroides and uncultured bacteria represented each a quarter of the analyzed community. Methanogenic archaea were investigated with ARDRA, too. The hydrogenotrophic Methanoculleus sp. was the dominant genus which is commonly described for maize digestion thus confirming the value of the model substrate.

Relationship between granule size and in vitro digestibility of maize and potato starches

Maize and potato starch granules were separated by a sedimentation method into a range of fractions based on their size. The surface weighted mean diameter [ D(3, 2)] of separated granules was in good agreement with predictions from Stokes’ law of sedimentation. In vitro digestion of fractionated starches by α-amylase was well fitted by first-order kinetics, with the digestion rate coefficient ( K) showing an inverse square relation with granule size, consistent with either a diffusion-controlled or surface-controlled mechanism. Apparent diffusion coefficients of α-amylase obtained by fitting the size dependence were 7.40 (maize starch) and 1.35 (potato starch) × 10 −10 cm 2 s −1 respectively. A correlation between K and specific granule surface area was also obtained for both starches, consistent with a role for surface area in controlling amylase digestion rates. Differences in K values are consistent with electron microscopy of partially digested granules, suggesting that an external surface-controlled mechanism may be operating for potato starch, and that the effective surface area of maize starch is greater than predicted from granule diameter due to surface pores and channels.

Biogas production from maize hybrids

There is an increasing world wide demand for energy crops and animal manures for biogas production. This research project was aimed at optimising anaerobic digestion of maize, using a laboratory digester, and finding out which maturity class of corn and which hybrid of a particular maturity class produces the highest rate of biogas and biomethane. Also the chemical composition of gases was studied. The corn hybrids of FAO 300 – FAO 400, FAO 400 – FAO 500 and FAO 500 – FAO 600 maturity class were tested. Experiments took place in the lab for 35 days within four series of experiments with four repetitions according to the method DIN 38 414. Results show that the highest maturity class of corn (FAO 400, FAO 500) increases the amount of biomethane. The greatest gain of biomethane per hectare according to maturity class is found with hybrids of FAO 400 (7768.4 Nm 3 ha −1 ) and FAO 500 (7050.1 Nm 3 ha −1 ) maturity class. Among the corn hybrids of maturity class FAO 300 – FAO 400, the hybrid PR38F70 gives the greatest production of biomethane per hectare (7646.2 Nm 3 ha −1 ). Among the hybrids of maturity class FAO 400 – FAO 500, the greatest amount of biomethane was achieved by the hybrid PIXXIA (9440.6 Nm 3 ha −1 ). Among the hybrids of maturity class FAO 500 – FAO 600 the hybrid CODISTAR (FAO 500) gives the highest production of biomethane (8562.7 Nm 3 ha −1 ). Production of biomethane varied with corn hybrids from 50 to 60% of produced biogas.