Effects of nitrate on methane production, fermentation, and microbial populations in in vitro ruminal cultures
2012
Zhou, Zhenming | Yu, Zhongtang | Meng, Qingxiang
The objective of this study was to examine the effects of nitrate on methane production, important fermentation characteristics, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, total bacteria, and methanogens using in vitro ruminal cultures. Potential adaptation of the above microbes and persistency of nitrate to mitigate CH₄ production were also evaluated. Methane production was reduced by 70% at 12μmolml⁻¹ and nearly completely at ⩾24μmolml⁻¹ nitrate. Production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) was affected to different extents at different nitrate concentrations. Over a series of six consecutive cultures receiving 12μmolml⁻¹nitrate, production of CH₄ and VFA did not change significantly. R. albus and R. flavefaciens seemed to adapt to nitrate, while F. succinogenes and methanogens did not. Nitrate may be used in achieving persistent mitigation of CH4 production by ruminants.
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