Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Publication Title

BioEnergy Research

Keywords

Pennycress, CoverCress™, Annual ryegrass, Cereal rye, Field pea, Arrested anaerobic digestion

Abstract

Winter cover crops provide many ecological benefits, though their economic impacts have been shown to be mixed. While cover crop biomass is typically terminated or used as livestock feed, it can also serve as a feedstock for bioenergy production, offering opportunities for additional revenue. This study evaluated the potential of wild pennycress, CoverCress™, annual ryegrass, cereal rye, and field pea biomass for volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production through arrested anaerobic digestion (AAD). Specifically, the effects of harvest timing on cover crop biomass composition and VFAs yield were examined, given the need for effective utilization and storage of early-harvested biomass. The five cover crops were planted in fall 2023 following soybeans and harvested at three different times in 2024. Batch AAD experiments were conducted with a methanogenesis inhibitor added. Results showed that harvest timing significantly affected biomass yield, composition, and VFAs production. Protein content decreased whereas lignin content increased as the crops matured. Total VFA yields ranged from 0.08 to 0.30 g/g-VS (volatile solids), with acetic, butyric, and propionic acids as the main components. The early-harvested cover crops produced similar or higher VFA yields, indicating that AAD is a suitable technology for these feedstocks. Estimated revenues from the produced VFAs were substantial, demonstrating the potential of winter cover crops as feedstocks for VFAs production.

Funding Source

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (grant no. 2023-70001-40991), Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council, and the Iowa Soybean Association. This article was published Open Access thanks to a transformative agreement between Milner Library and Springer Nature.

DOI

10.1007/s12155-026-11005-3

Comments

This article was first published in BioEnergy Research (2026): https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-026-11005-3. Supplemental material available on the publisher's website. 

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