Cow Dung Research Articles

Rice straw, biochar, cow manure as soil amendment and effective cellulolytic fungi immobilized in alginate biochar bead for enhancing soil enzyme activity and chemical characteristics of salt affected soil

Enhancing biomethane through co-digestion of water primrose and cow dung insights into effective biogas purification techniques

Isolation and characterization of Proteus mirabilis bacteriophage T2 and its application.

India's massive cow dung waste can be turned from an environmental burden into a renewable resource, opening up a sustainable path for soil enrichment, rural electricity, and climate mitigation. This would make a persistent waste management issue a key component of the country's circular bioeconomy. Cow dung, often considered agricultural waste, poses a significant environmental disposal challenge despite being a rich source of lignocellulosic biomass containing cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and other valuable compounds. Conventional methods of cellulose extraction from such biomass often involve harsh chemicals and energy-intensive processes, raising sustainability concerns. This study addresses the issue by exploring the more eco-friendly and energy-efficient valorization protocols of cow dung through a comparative analysis of two extraction techniques: deep eutectic solvents (DES), a green and environmentally benign alternative, and traditional alkaline hydrolysis. The goal is to evaluate and optimize cellulose fiber recovery using these methods, promoting the sustainable use of an underutilized biomass resource. The impact of deep eutectic solvent and alkaline hydrolysis treatments was assessed based on yield, lignocellulosic composition analysis, and functional and structural properties. In a comparative study, washed cow dung and cellulose fibers obtained were analyzed using various physicochemical characterization techniques, including compositional analysis, ultimate analysis, Fourier-transform infrared, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Among both methods, the deep eutectic solvent method proved to be the most effective, yielding a 74.4% crude solid fraction with 34.1% cellulose content at 100°C. In comparison, the alkaline hydrolysis method resulted in a 25% crude solid fraction with 32% cellulose content. The cellulose extracted using the deep eutectic solvent (DES) method has a 49% crystallinity index and a thermal decomposition temperature of 390°C. In contrast, cellulose obtained through alkaline hydrolysis has a crystallinity index of 47% and decomposes at 380°C. Life cycle analysis depicted the impacts of cellulose production methods on various environmental impact categories, exhibiting significantly reduced impacts in critical categories such as global warming (18 vs. 47kg CO2 eq), photochemical oxidation, eutrophication, and toxicity indicators. These findings highlight deep eutectic solvent extraction as the superior method for cellulose extraction compared to alkaline hydrolysis, highlighting the potential of deep eutectic solvents as a green and efficient substitute for conventional chemical methods.

BackgroundThe world is facing both an increasingly severe energy crisis and a growing problem of agricultural pollution. The utilization of agricultural waste by anaerobic digestion (AD), has received increasing attention. AD using representative waste cow dung results in total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) accumulation and inhibition of methanogens resulting in reduced CH4 production. However, there is a lack of highly efficient in-situ biological domestication strategies to enhance the TAN tolerance of methanogens in AD systems.ResultsIn this study, an incremental approach to gradually increasing the TAN concentration has been used for overcoming the problem. The results showed that at an ultra-high concentration of 6124.09 mg/L TAN, a 48-day domesticated AD system functioned stably and the cumulative CH4 production reached 72.81 mL/g volatile solids, whereas the undomesticated AD system failed to produce CH4. After domestication, the lactate dehydrogenase concentration decreased to 96.44 ng/L and the adenosine triphosphate concentration increased to 48.77 nmol/L, confirming that microbial activity improved. Hydrolytic and acidogenic bacteria were enriched, with Methanosarcina (79.73%) dominating the domesticated AD system, primarily Methanosarcina mazei. Metagenomic analysis showed that with two-component system enrichment, the key inhibited steps from glycerate-1,3P2 to pyruvate (2.498‰), and from acetyl-CoA and acetyl phosphate to acetic acid (1.141‰ and 0.798‰), as well as vital methanogenic genes mcrA (0.128‰), mcrB (0.127‰), and mcrG (0.065‰), were both enriched, which favored a stable methanogenic system. More importantly, this ultra-high resistance AD system also showed the potential to increase the CH4 production per unit substrate at the Minhe biogas plant with 24,000 m3 operation scale in Shandong Province, China.ConclusionsStepwise increase the TAN concentration is a novel method that was demonstrated to be a practical and sustainable way to overcome ultra-high TAN inhibition (6124.09 mg/L). During domestication, the two-component system may regulate the microbial collaborative network to ensure microbial activity and high abundance enrichment, thus potentially constructing a methanogenic system dominated by hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis, holding a promising application prospect. This study helped recognize the potential of methanogens in tolerating ultra-high inhibition and developed an achievable AD technology for robustly treating fecal residue and wastewater in practice.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40168-025-02255-y.

Increasing fossil fuel costs and environmental impacts have intensified the need for renewable energy solutions such as biogas and hydrogen. Biogas, produced through anaerobic digestion of organic waste, is a promising option but is constrained by limited methane yield. This study addresses the limitations of low biogas yield in biogas production by optimizing anaerobic digestion with supplemental additives. Batch experiments under ambient and controlled mesophilic (37 ± 1°C) conditions were conducted with cow dung as the primary substrate, and supplementary additives were evaluated. To enhance biogas yields, chemical additives (FeCl 3 , NiCl 2 , CaCO 3 , and urea) and cow dung ash were used, along with higher mesophilic temperature. The novelty of this work lies in examining the combined effect of inorganic additives as a mixture on the rate of biogas production, as well as comparing the influence of a higher operating temperature, inorganic additive mixtures, and cow dung ash on total cumulative biogas production. Results showed that a chemical mixture (FeCl 3 , NiCl 2 , urea, CaCO 3 ) boosted biogas output by 40%, while cow dung ash (5 g/L) supplementation increased production by nearly 50%. These findings suggest that tailored additive blends or ash can significantly enhance biogas generation through trace mineral supplementation, pH stabilization, and improved microbial activity. By leveraging locally available ash and low-cost additives, this approach provides a scalable, economically viable strategy for rural biogas systems. Overall, this research delivers practical and cost-effective methods to augment biogas yields from biomass, offering a model for sustainable and circular energy solutions.

Biogas represents a viable renewable energy source that is a clean alternative to fossil fuels. It is especially feasible for rural communities. It is a source of energy that is easily accessible, especially in an agriculture-heavy country like India, especially in rural areas. However, its use has been constrained due to low methane yields, and inefficient substrate utilization. In this study, the biogas yield was enhanced through integrated strategies involving the use of locally available agricultural additives, fish waste, and ultrasonication. The synergistic impact of feed dilution, organic/inorganic additives, and sonication pretreatment on biogas production was studied and has not previously been explored much. Batch experiments were conducted over 60 days using cow dung as the base substrate. The substrate was diluted at ratios of 1:1 and 1:3 and supplemented with organic additives (cabbage, fish waste, and flax seeds) and an inorganic additive (sodium bicarbonate). Additionally, sonication pretreatment was applied to selected reactors to improve substrate disintegration. The 1:1 reactor was taken as the control reactor, to which all other reactors were compared. Overall, among the organic additives, cabbage yielded the greatest improvement at 23.3%, whereas sodium bicarbonate increased biogas production by 23.1% possibly through pH stabilization. Furthermore, sonication pretreatment with flax seeds gave the best results with significantly increased substrate digestibility, resulting in a remarkable 78.8% increase in biogas yield. This study reports the combined effects of various factors such as dilution, additives, and sonication, demonstrating a substantial improvement in both biogas yield and methane enrichment.

The generation of food waste poses an escalating societal challenge. Anaerobic digestion emerges as a sustainable and eco-friendly method for valorization and disposal. A small-scale floating-drum-type digester was developed, operating in batch mode to harness biogas from three distinct food waste categories. Potato waste, leftover cooked food, and fish waste were utilized as feedstock, maintained at an average temperature of 21°C for a retention time of 10 days, with cow manure serving as the inoculum source. The advances of the current work are built upon comparing biogas production volume and methane content from mono-anaerobic digestion of these various wastes. Examining cow manure and different substrate samples offers insights into their composition, encompassing total solids, C/N ratio, and pH. Shredded raw wastes were wet fed into the digester at a 1:1 waste/water ratio. Cumulative production of biogas and the methane fraction from two experiments were monitored. The maximum average cumulative biogas production per kg of total solid was observed for leftover cooked food (up to 261.4 L/kgTS), followed by fish waste (up to 248.5 L/kgTS) and potato waste (up to 137.15 L/kgTS). The maximum methane percentage occurred in fish waste displaying the highest methane percentage (74%), trailed by leftover cooked food (59%) and potato waste (55.8%) from both experiments.

Growth medium is an important factor in the germination and early growth of cocoa plants. In view of this, a pot experiment was conducted in the screen house of Crop Production Technology department to evaluate the effect of organic-enriched growth media on germination and early growth of cocoa seedlings over a period of one month. The treatments were Control (Top soil only), Top soil + Sawdust, Top soil + Poultry Manure, Top soil + Cow Dung, Top soil + Swine Dung, Top soil + Sawdust + Poultry Manure, Top soil + Sawdust + Cow Dung and Top soil + Sawdust + Swine Dung. The treatments were replicated 10 times and arranged in a completely randomized design. The treatment mixture (Top soil + Sawdust) was done at 3:1, while the organic manures were applied at 10 tons/ha (equivalent to 50 g per pot). Data collected were germination percentage, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and leaf area. The collected data were subjected to analysis of variance and significant means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5% probability. The application of organic manures enhanced the growth performance of cocoa plant, and Top soil + Sawdust was significantly higher compared to other treatments. Top soil + Poultry manure, Top soil + Sawdust and Top soil + Cow dung had the highest significant germination percentages (90%, 89% and 88%) and, produced the highest significant plant height (25.00 cm, 24.00 cm, 23.00 cm), number of leaves (10.50, 10.20, 10.00), leaf area (55.00 cm2, 53.00 cm2, 52.50 cm2) and stem diameter (1.80 cm, 1.78 cm, 1.75 cm) respectively compared to other treatments. The addition of organic manures to the growth substrates improved the germination and early growth of cocoa seedlings. The use of Top soil enriched with poultry manure was recommended for improved early growth of cocoa plant.

Abstract The global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions has heightened interest in biomass as a renewable feedstock for energy production. Among thermochemical processes, pyrolysis presents a promising method for converting biomass into valuable fuels, chemicals, and biochar. This study investigates the thermal degradation behavior and kinetic properties of four distinct biomasses—municipal sludge, cow manure, cork, and wood flour—using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) at a constant heating rate of 5 °C/min. Mass loss profiles, enthalpy changes, kinetic energies, and activation energies were analyzed to elucidate the thermal stability and reactivity of each material. Activation energies were estimated using a simplified Kissinger method based on mass degradation rates. Cork exhibited the highest enthalpy release (16,021 J/min), reflecting its highly aromatic, lignin-rich structure, while sludge displayed the lowest energy output, attributed to its high inorganic content. Wood flour demonstrated characteristics of crystalline cellulose decomposition, whereas cow manure exhibited a two-step degradation behavior linked to hemicellulose and cellulose breakdown. These findings provide critical insights into the pyrolysis behavior of diverse biomass resources and offer a scientific basis for optimizing energy recovery processes from mixed waste streams.

Land-clearing and soil-amendment strategies play a crucial role in determining agricultural productivity, sustainability, and environmental resilience. This study appraised the preferences of aspiring agriculturists for ten land-clearing and soil-amendment technologies using a preference ranking system and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Data were collected from final-year agronomy students at Southern Delta University, Ozoro, who had completed the Farm Practical Year Programme (FYP). Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute, 2002). Results indicated a strong preference for organic-based amendments (e.g., cattle dung, sugarcane peelings) and conservation-oriented land-clearing techniques (e.g., slash-and-mulch), whereas conventional practices such as ploughing and slash-and-burn were least preferred. The opinions of aspiring agriculturists are particularly critical because university exposure shapes their technical competence, environmental awareness, and innovative capacity. As the next generation of farm managers, extension agents, and policy influencers, their preferences can serve as predictors of future technology adoption trends and sustainability-oriented practices. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Southern Delta University, Ozoro. The study was limited by its small sample size and single-institution scope, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Future research should include larger, multi-institutional samples and comparative analyses across regions, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds to provide broader insights into the determinants of technology preference and adoption among emerging agricultural professionals.

The long-term effects of land clearing and soil amendments on soil fertility and crop productivity remain underexplored in Nigeria. This study evaluated the residual influence of five land clearing methods (slash-and-burn, slash-and-mulch, mechanical ploughing, herbicide application, and manual residue packing) and five soil amendments (cattle dung, egusi-melon cover crop, NPK fertilizer, grass clippings, and sugarcane peels) on soil properties and tomato yield in Ozoro, Delta State. A split-plot randomized complete block design was carried out in 2023 and 2024, with residual effects assessed in 2025. Results showed that slash-and-mulch maintained the highest soil infiltration (82.13 mm hr⁻¹), lower bulk density (1.47 g cm⁻³), and maximum tomato fruit weight (583.73 g plant⁻¹). Slash-and-burn had negative residual impacts, with higher bulk density (1.62 g cm⁻³) and reduced yield (481.20 g plant⁻¹). Among soil amendments, sugarcane peels and cattle dung significantly improved organic matter (4.07% and 3.98%) and microbial biomass, translating into higher tomato yields (598.47 g plant⁻¹ and 583.87 g plant⁻¹). Correlation analysis confirmed positive associations between yield and soil organic matter, infiltration, potassium, microbial biomass, and ECEC. The study concludes that slash-and-mulch combined with organic amendments leaves beneficial residual effects on soil fertility and tomato yield, while slash-and-burn and sole mineral fertilizer application degrade soil quality. Adoption of residue management and organic amendments is recommended for sustainable tomato production in Nigeria.

Lignocellulosic biomass has drawn interest recently as a potential anaerobic digestion substrate for producing sustainable biogas. This study investigates the possibilities for producing biogas from various organic wastes, such as cashew fruit, cow dung, silkworm larval litter, and cattle urine materials that are abundant, inexpensive, and high in lignin and carbon. Anaerobic digestion was carried out with various combinations of these substrates at mesophilic temperatures (35°C). The maximum amount of biogas and methane was produced when 20% cow dung, 40% silkworm larval litter, 30% water, and 10% cow urine were co-digested. Process consistency was demonstrated by the experimental findings, which showed a maximum biogas output of 6.99 m3 with a standard deviation of 0.295. The biogas calorific value was 35.1MJ/m3, and its maximum methane content was 66.7%. The study suggests more optimization to increase methane output and storage efficiency while highlighting the potential of these biomass resources for localized energy applications.

Environmental and Economic Assessment of Cow Manure Management in Halland, Sweden: Land Return, Biofuel, and Biochar

Livestock excreta and climate warming are two main disturbances of wetlands embedded in grazing lands, resulting in long-lasting changes in soil microorganisms. However, the impact of livestock excreta on the soil bacteria community in wetlands with climate warming has not been elucidated. In the current study, a laboratory culture experiment was designed to investigate how yak excreta, temperature, and their interaction regulate the soil bacterial community in an alpine marsh. The results show that yak dung increased soil moisture, pH, total organic carbon (TOC), and available phosphorus (AP), but decreased NO3--N (P < 0.05). Yak urine increased soil moisture, NH4+-N, and NO3--N (P < 0.05). Warming decreased soil moisture and pH of marsh soil (P < 0.05). Warming increased the alpha-diversity of the bacterial community in marsh soil; yak dung had an opposite effect, while yak urine exerted almost a negligible effect. In comparison with warming, yak excreta was the main cause of changing the bacterial community in marsh soil. Yak dung altered more bacterial genera of marsh soil than yak urine. Moreover, yak dung obviously strengthened the bacterial association interaction in marsh soil, while yak urine had the opposite trend. Yak excreta and temperature altered the bacterial community by regulating NO3--N, AP, pH, TOC, and moisture of marsh soil. This study confirms the different influences of yak dung and urine on the bacterial community of marsh soil under warming conditions and highlights that the impacts of yak excreta on the bacterial community are sensitive to climate warming.IMPORTANCEInvestigating the response of the bacterial community in marsh soil to external disturbances is an important but poorly elucidated topic in microbial ecology. In this study, we evaluated the impacts of yak excreta, temperature, and their interaction on the bacterial community in alpine marsh soil. Our results showed that yak excreta exhibited a stronger influence on the bacterial community of marsh soil than temperature. The response of the bacterial community of marsh soil to yak dung is more sensitive than to yak urine. Yak excreta and temperature significantly altered the bacterial community by regulating NO3--N, AP, pH, TOC, and moisture of marsh soil. Understanding the impact of yak excreta on soil bacterial community under warming conditions is extremely significant for managing grazing and maintaining a healthy alpine marsh ecosystem.

Although the use of cow manure as a crop fertilizer has received widespread attention, the impact of different fermentation methods (FMs) on the potential of liquid fraction of cow manure as a crop fertilizer has not been thoroughly assessed. To address this gap, we investigated the effects of seven FMs over a 13-week period on the physicochemical characteristics of cow wastewater and evaluated its potential for reuse as a soil fertilizer. Our findings demonstrated that diverse FMs resulted in variations in average root length (ARL) and germination index (GI), whereas all FMs increased the germination percentage to over 80% after five weeks of fermentation. All FMs steadily reduced the levels of NO3-N and total phosphorus. Furthermore, total nitrogen, NH4-N, NO3-N, and total phosphorus were significantly negatively correlated with the germination percentage, ARL, and GI, indicating that the fermented cow wastewater should be appropriately diluted or combined with other fertilizers. These results provide foundational data for assessing the impact of different FMs on cow liquid manure, which helps to select the optimal composting method according to crop-specific nutritional needs in the future.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-17921-2.

We present a collection of over 1,100 bacterial isolates from hematophagous Stomoxys flies and cow manure. Genome assemblies and antimicrobial susceptibility data are available for a subset of isolates. This resource supports studies of bacterial ecology, host-vector interactions, and potential roles in bovine mastitis.

Improper management of dairy cow manure poses a major risk of environmental pollution. In contrast, anaerobic digestion provides a sustainable pathway by transforming manure into renewable biogas while reducing environmental burdens compared with conventional handling methods. This study examined the operational adaptation and performance of a continuous stirred-tank anaerobic digester fed with dairy cow manure, where the daily organic loading rate (kgVS/m³ reactor volume) was gradually increased to maximize biogas generation. The loading was progressively raised until clear signs of process instability appeared. The experiment was conducted over 98 days under mesophilic conditions, with pH maintained between 7.10 and 7.40. Initially, the digesters were supplied with 20 g of fresh manure per day (0.49 gVS/L), and the input was doubled weekly until reaching 280 g/day (6.82 gVS/L). Under optimal conditions, peak biogas and methane productions were 16.2 NL and 9.2 NL, respectively, corresponding to a maximum specific methane yield of 232 NL CH₄/gVS. The results show that higher loading rates stimulated microbial activity and accelerated organic matter degradation, leading to substantially greater biogas output. Moreover, the digestate exhibited improved physicochemical characteristics, enhancing its value as a nutrient-rich amendment for agricultural applications.

IntroductionOrganic amendments like manures, sludges, and composts have significant potential to enhance soil’s physical, chemical, and microbiological conditions, aiding in the restoration of soils disturbed by intensive agricultural practices and compensating for losses due to plant pathogens. This study investigates the effects of background fertilization with organic amendments and inorganic fertilizers on the root-knot nematode (RKN) disease in cucumber and the functioning of the soil ecosystem.MethodsField trials were conducted in a greenhouse infested with Meloidogyne incognita, applying six background fertilization treatments: fresh cow manure, composted cow manure, fresh chicken manure, pelletized chicken manure, slow-release inorganic fertilizer, and fast-release inorganic fertilizer. Each amendment was adjusted to provide equivalent units of N-fertilization. After 120-day crop cycles, total fruit production and RKN-disease severity were evaluated, along with nematode-based indices.ResultsThe fresh chicken manure treatment yielded the highest cucumber production, despite no significant differences in RKN-disease severity between treatments. Different organic amendments influenced RKN mortality at transplanting, with fresh chicken manure being the most effective in reducing RKN abundances in soil, followed by pelletized chicken manure, fresh cow manure, and composted cow manure. The inorganic fertilizers were the least effective in reducing RKN soil abundances. Organic amendments increased the complexity of the soil food web, whereas fast-release inorganic fertilizers led to its degradation and simplification. Cucumber cultivation and fertigation throughout the crop cycle enriched the soil with nutrients, intensified the bacteria-dominated organic matter degradation channel, and further simplified the soil food web.DiscussionThis study demonstrates the potential of organic amendments to enhance soil health and partially suppress root-knot nematode disease in cucumber.

A high risk of plant failure in semiarid ecosystems requires restoration methods that mitigate environmental harshness while remaining economically viable. This study investigated the impact of planting methods and soil amendments on the survival and growth of Cercis griffithii, a keystone shrub of cultural significance, native to mountainous regions spanning Anatolia to the Himalayas. We compared pot and bare‐root planting methods, using hydrogel, zeolite, bentonite, and cow manure as soil amendments. Soil moisture around plant roots was monitored for up to 3 weeks after watering, and plant growth and survival were measured over two consecutive growing seasons. Hydrogel application, followed by zeolite and bentonite, significantly increased soil moisture around plant roots, thereby enhancing seedling survival and growth. Hydrogel, zeolite, and bentonite positively enhanced soil water and nutrient availability, whereas cow manure had negative effects due to its high salinity. Both planting methods showed similar survival rates; however, bare‐root seedlings exhibited superior growth compared to potted seedlings. The cost analysis for successfully establishing C. griffithii seedlings revealed that the efficacy of planting methods varied with the additive treatments. Bare‐root planting combined with either hydrogel or bentonite emerged as the most cost‐effective restoration strategy. These findings highlight the importance of selecting suitable planting methods, soil amendments, and cost‐effective treatments to optimize restoration efforts.