Linking Metabolites in Eight Bioactive Forage Species to Their in Vitro Methane Reduction Potential Across Several Cultivars and Harvests

An in vitro study was conducted to analyze the fermentation end-products from 17 cultivars of eight polyphenol containing forage species. The polyphenol composition and proanthocyanidin (PA) structural features of all cultivars were analyzed with UPLC-MS/MS in leaves of vegetative or generative plants. All samples were incubated with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG, a tannin-binding agent) to separate the tannin-effect on methane (CH4) production from that of the forage quality. Sulla and big trefoil, two particularly PA rich species, were found to have the highest CH4 reduction potential of up to 47%. However, they showed simultaneous and almost equal reductions in gas production (GP; a proxy for digestibility). The addition of PEG led to an increase in both GP and CH4 production, confirming the role of tannins on CH4 reduction. Moreover, PA structural features and concentration were found to be an important source of variation for CH4 production from PA containing species. Despite having low polyphenol concentrations, chicory and plantain were found to reduce CH4 production without reducing GP. Generally, the variation across cultivars from the same species was found to be lower than interspecies variability, and the results were found to be consistent across growth stages, indicating the findings representativeness.

Potential effect of some essential oils on rumen methane reduction and digestibility by In Vitro incubation technique

Since excessive use of in-feed antibiotics and chemical feed supplements can potentially affect health risks and environmental problems, organic feed supplement became alternative save material. Organic material such as essential oils (EO) is potential for feed additive in the livestock industry because of their main activity as rumen manipulator. Their potential as rumen manipulators has not enough for type and doses of essential oils experiment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate 6 essential oils/EO’s (garlic/, thyme, clove, orange peel, mint, and cinnamon) with different doses (100, 200 and 300 ppm) on in vitro rumen methane reduction and in vitro digestibility using in vitro gas production technique. The experiment resulted highest level in in-vitro methane reduction potential (MRP, %) 72.83% at orange peel oils 300 ppm after 6 h incubation, while using clove oils 300 ppm had highest in vitro true digestibility of dry matter (IVTDDM) 81.41% after 30-hour incubation. Using Cinnamon oils had high value both of MRP level and IVTDDM (48.91 and 79.12 %). In Conclusion, all essential oils reduced in vitro rumen methane production at 6 h incubation compared to control at 300 ppm and there was no negative effect on In Vitro Digestibility.

Application of Smart, Swarm and Small UAV’s for Methane Emission Reduction

In this paper, we present the research challenges and opportunities in methane reduction within the smart, swarm, and small Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAVs). Methane is a kind of greenhouse gas (GHG) that contributes to global temperature warming and climate changes through trapping infrared radiation in the atmosphere. The related literature of the current methane measurements and suppression of methane approaches are reviewed, and they are often limited due to the maintenance, installment, and calibration requirements of these sensing systems. To overcome these limitations, an emerging technology, UAVs, as considered mobile sensors to measure and control methane emissions, would extend detection range and acquired fine-grained information that helps to capture methane emissions in a much effective way. However, many challenges need to be explored: In the sensing field, the improvement of positive methane detection rate, which contradicts the methane diffusion in the atmosphere. The swarm UAVs for optimal coverage control, the substances of suppression methane usage, and reaction time in the control field. Different methane diffusion disturbances types could affect the strategy of swarming UAVs movement, especially under wind field. Besides, we also talk about the impact of methane reduction and related technology development for the future. Finally, we concluded that the Digital Twin would be the next methane reduction revolution to prevent potential global warming.

Assessing the Potential of Diverse Forage Mixtures to Reduce Enteric Methane Emissions In Vitro

Methane emissions from ruminants are a major contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, eight different forage species were combined in binary mixtures with Lolium perenne in increasing proportions, in vitro, to determine their methane reduction potential in ruminants. Species were sampled in two consecutive years where possible. The aims were: a) to determine if mixtures with specific forages, particularly those rich in plant specialized metabolites (PSM), can reduce methane emissions compared to ryegrass monocultures, b) to identify whether there is a linear-dose effect relationship in methane emissions from the legume or herb addition, and c) whether these effects are maintained across sampling years. Results showed that all dicot species studied, including the non-tannin-containing species, reduced methane production. The tannin-rich species, Sanguisorba minor and Lotus pedunculatus, showed the greatest methane reduction potential of up to 33%. Due to concomitant reductions in the forage digestibility, Cichorium intybus yielded the lowest methane emissions per digestible forage unit. Contrary to total gas production, methane production was less predictable, with a tendency for the lowest methane production being obtained with a 67.5% share of the legume or herb partner species. Thus, linear increments in the partner species share did not result in linear changes in methane concentration. The methane reduction potential differed across sampling years, but the species ranking in methane concentration was stable.

The Efficacy of Plant-Based Bioactives Supplementation to Different Proportion of Concentrate Diets on Methane Production and Rumen Fermentation Characteristics In Vitro

This In Vitro study was conducted to investigate the impact of plant-bioactives extract (PE), a combination of garlic powder and bitter orange extract, on methane production, rumen fermentation, and digestibility in different feeding models. The dietary treatments were 1000 g grass/kg ration + 0 g concentrate/kg ration (100:0), 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, and 20:80. The PE was supplemented at 200 g/kg of the feed. Each group consisted of 6 replicates. The experiment was performed as an In Vitro batch culture for 24 h at 39 °C. This procedure was repeated in three consecutive runs. The results of this experiment showed that supplementation with PE strongly reduced methane production in all kinds of feeding models (p < 0.001). Its efficacy in reducing methane/digestible dry matter was 44% in the 100:0 diet, and this reduction power increased up to a 69.2% with the inclusion of concentrate in the 20:80 diet. The PE application significantly increased gas and carbon dioxide production and the concentration of ammonia-nitrogen, but decreased the pH (p < 0.001). In contrast, it did not interfere with organic matter and fiber digestibility. Supplementation with PE was effective in altering rumen fermentation toward less acetate and more propionate and butyrate (p < 0.001). Additionally, it improved the production of total volatile fatty acids in all feeding models (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the PE combination showed effective methane reduction by improving rumen fermentation characteristics without exhibiting adverse effects on fiber digestibility. Thus, PE could be used with all kinds of feeding models to effectively mitigate methane emissions from ruminants.

Air Quality and Health Benefits of Methane Policies in the United States Oil & Gas Sector

In 2016, air pollution from oil & gas (O&G) production in the U.S. resulted in 7,500 (95% CI: 4,500 - 12,000) excess deaths among many other health impacts, valued at $77 billion ($2016 USD) (95% CI: $27 billion - $170 billion). An ambitious methane reduction policy in 2028 would result in 1,400 (820 - 2,300) deaths compared to 2028 business as usual, while other policies would have modest effects. Regions without O&G activity experienced impact from the sector and benefits from emissions reductions. On a per ton basis, the health co-benefits per methane reduction from each policy were ~5x lower than health co-impacts from the whole production sector, since policies only apply to specific O&G production processes. We show that there are still substantial health co-benefits to policies that reduce methane emissions, however the health co-benefits can be enhanced if emissions reduction policies cover more components of O&G production.

The Efficacy of Mootral Supplementation on Methane Production and Rumen Fermentation Characteristics in Ruminants Fed Different Styles

Background: Using natural feed supplements to mitigate methane emissions from ruminants is a promising strategy. Many antimethanogenic compounds have been used to alter rumen fermentation, yet their potential to reduce methane production effectively is not consistent across different kinds of feeding styles (forage:concentrate ratios). Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the impacts of Mootral (MT), a natural combination of garlic powder and bitter orange extract, on methane production, rumen fermentation, and digestibility in different feeding models commonly used for ruminants. The dietary treatments were 1000 g grass/kg ration (10 GRS), 8 GRS + 200 g concentrate/kg ration (2CON), 6GRS + 4CON, 4GRS + 6CON, and 2GRS + 8CON. MT was supplemented at 200 g/kg of the feed. Each group consisted of 6 replicates. The experiment was performed as a batch culture for 24 h at 39 °C. This procedure was repeated in 3 consecutive runs. Results: The results of this experiment showed that supplementation with MT strongly reduced methane production in all kinds of feeding models (P<0.001). Its efficacy in reducing methane/digestible dry matter was 44% in the 10GRS diet, and this reductive power increased with the inclusion of CON up to a 69.5% reduction with the 2GRS + 8CON diet. MT application significantly increased gas and carbon dioxide production and the concentration of ammonia-nitrogen, but decreased the pH (P<0.001). In contrast, it did not interfere with organic matter and fiber digestibility. Supplementation with MT was effective in altering rumen fermentation toward less acetate and more propionate and butyrate. Additionally, it improved the production of total volatile fatty acids in all feeding models (P<0.001). Conclusions: The MT combination showed effective methane reduction by improving rumen fermentation characteristics without exhibiting adverse effects on fiber digestibility. Thus, MT could be used with all kinds of feeding models to effectively mitigate methane emissions from ruminants.

Environmental Sustainability Enhancement of Waste Disposal Sites in Developing Countries through Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Sustainable management of municipal solid waste is one of the major challenges for authorities in developing countries. Current waste disposal methods in Pakistan and other developing countries are not meeting standards of any proper waste management system opted for in the developed world. This mismanagement of waste is leading to serious environmental problems at local as well as global levels. This study aims to investigate the methane emissions from waste dumpsites in the city of Karachi, Pakistan, and to propose an effective approach to enhance their environmental sustainability. The methane emissions from waste disposal sites were assessed by simulating four different landfill situations during the landfill simulation reactor experiment. The residual methane reduction potential of each waste disposal approach was assessed by a biochemical methane test of waste after the experiment. It is estimated that in the present situation, about 11,500 tons of CO2-eq methane is released annually from waste disposal sites in Karachi. The convectional anaerobic landfill with methane capturing facilities and post-aeration operation was found to be the most environmentally sustainable approach with controlling 65% of residual methane emissions in comparison with the present scenario. For the development of new landfill sites, we recommend the bioreactor landfill approach with methane recovery and post-care (in-situ aeration).