Ruderal Habitats: A Source for Biomass and Biogas

The aim of the study was to evaluate the chemical composition and biogas potential of selected ruderal and expansive plant species: Heracleum sosnowskyi, Aegopodium podagraria, Chaerophyllum bulbosum, Acer negundo, and Urtica dioica. Plant material was collected from a 19th-century park in the village of Niegolewo (Greater Poland Voivodship) and analyzed for cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, extractives, and ash content before and after methane fermentation. Fermentation followed DIN 38 414-S8, and chemical analyses used standardized methods (TAPPI, Seifert, and DIN). Statistical analyses included ANOVA, CVA, and hierarchical clustering. The highest biogas yield was obtained from A. podagraria, which is associated with low lignin and high hemicellulose degradation. The results confirm the potential of ruderal biomass as a diverse source for biogas production.