Long-Term Mesophilic Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Swine Manure with Corn Stover and Microbial Community Analysis

Long-term anaerobic co-digestion of swine manure (SM) and corn stover (CS) was conducted using semi-continuously loaded digesters under mesophilic conditions. A preliminary test was first conducted to test the effects of loading rates, and results indicated the 3 g-VS L(−1) d(−1) was the optimal loading rate. Based on the preliminary results, a verification replicated test was conducted with 3 g-VS L(−1) d(−1) loading rate and different SM/CS ratios (1:1, 2:1 and 1:2). Results showed that a SM/CS ratio of 2/1 was optimal, based on maximum observed methane-VS(des) generation and carbon conversion efficiency (72.56 ± 3.40 mL g(−1) and 40.59%, respectively). Amplicon sequencing analysis suggested that microbial diversity was increased with CS loading. Amino-acid-degrading bacteria were abundant in the treatment groups. Archaea Methanoculleus could enhance biogas and methane productions.