Dried Cow Manure Research Articles

Utilization of Water Hyacinth and Spent Coffee Ground as Raw Materials to Produce Bio-Compost

The study aims to utilize water hyacinth and spent coffee grounds (SGC) as raw materials to produce bio-compost and its effects on rice growth. Four different bio-compost formulations were produced. The water hyacinth (6 kg) and dried cow manure (2 kg) were thoroughly mixed and added with SGC+EM (Trial 1), SGC+water (Trial 2), EM (Trial 3), and water (Trial 4). At the end of fermentation, the 3 types of macronutrients (N, P, and K) were determined. Germination percentage and growth in response to this bio-compost were also assessed. The results found that the bio-compost consisted of N, P, and K, ranging from 311–350, 154–197, and 23–25 mg/100 g, respectively. All bio-composts had a favorable effect on the germination percentage, root and shoot lengths, and vigor index of rice seedlings in the seed germination assay. Trial 2 gave the highest root and shoot lengths of 7.32 and 4.35 cm, respectively, and the greatest value of 1051 of the vigor index. At 45 DAS, the results revealed that all trials of bio-compost had a beneficial influence on the development of rice seedlings by increasing root and shoot lengths and fresh and dried weights of rice seedlings, especially Trial 2, which consisted of SGC when compared to the controls. In this phenomenon, the presence of SGC at low concentrations could encourage rice growth.

Drying dairy manure using a passive solar still: A case study

The pyrolysis of wet biomass such as faecal sludge and cow manure requires an extra drying step to reduce the moisture content before pyrolysis can occur. Open-air solar drying is a technique routinely used to dry faecal sludge and dairy manure. In this method water held within the biomass is lost to the atmosphere. A simple solar still was constructed in order to both dry cow manure and to capture water as part of the drying process. Measurements included solar radiation, cover temperature and internal solar still temperature and chemical analysis of the distillate. The maximum internal temperature of the solar still was recorded at 52.9 °C and the minimum recorded at 10.1 °C. The key objectives were to investigate the use of solar still technology in drying cow manure and determine the chemical properties of the distillate with a view to its re-use as irrigation water. The moisture content of the cow manure was reduced by 13%, however, the pathogen content of the resultant distillate contained 8,010 Escherichia Coli per 100 ml.

Rate and Efficiency of Organic Carbon Assimiliation by Aquacultured Juvenile Sandfish Holothuria scabra

Diet assimilation rate is crucial to the growth and survival of Holothuria scabra juveniles during culture. To understand the assimilation rate and efficiency we assess organic carbon assimilation, which is closely related to the growth and source of variations in diet. We conducted a two-factor experiment, i.e., juvenile origin (cultured and wild H. scabra juveniles), and diet treatment (one control with no additional diet, and three additional diets, i.e., rice bran, dried cow manure, and seagrass Enhalus acoroides extract). We monitored the amounts of each diet that the juveniles consumed and the fecal pellets they egested. The diet, sediment, body walls, and organic carbon content of the fecal pellets were measured using an elemental analyzer combined with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Exponential growth was seen in the juveniles fed with rice bran, which had a fecal pellet egestion of 0.12–0.21 gC/d. Stable isotope analysis showed that the contribution of the diet proportion to the growth of the sandfish did not exceed 30%. The range of the assimilation rate was 35.3–62.4 gC/d. The average assimilation efficiency of organic carbon was 43.6 ± 27.7% (max 57.9%). Considering the assimilation rate and efficiency, we suggest a feeding interval of once every two days or twice per week at a rate of 3–5% of the total H. scabra biomass for a juvenile culture system.

A Study on the Characteristics of Combustion Using Cow Manure Solid Fuel by Lab-scale Fluidized Bed Reactor

Interest in new and renewable energy is growing worldwide in response to global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels, and utilize and distribute various new and renewable energy sources in response to global trend. This study conducted a combustion experiment using cow manure solid fuel. The characteristics of the cow manure solid fuel, the emission gas and odor during combustion, and the ash from the combustion were analyzed. The results of the dried cow manure solid fuel, the water content, ash component, sulfur composition, and heavy metals were found to satisfied with the overall quality standard of the livestock excrement solid fuel. The results of the combustion exhaust, the experimental values of PM10, CO, and HCl were all higher than the emission acceptance criteria in the initial, mid and post stages of boiler operation, and concentrations of As, Cd and Hg are not detected. and the concentrations of Ni, Pb, Cr, fluoride compounds, nitrogen oxides and dioxin were lower than the standard. The results of the XRF analysis show that the main components were SiO2, P2O5, CaO and K2O. P2O5 in the ash can be a source of fertilizer, so it is deemed necessary to examine the possibility through further experiments. The analysis results of odor, showed that the concentration of ammonia, methylmercaptane, sulfuric acid, dimethyldysulfide and trimethylamine was higher than the emission acceptance criteria, while the concentration of dimethylacid was lower than the emission acceptance standard.

Effects of manure-based biochar on uptake of nutrients and water holding capacity of different types of soils

Burning of a huge amount of agricultural waste including crop residues and animal manure is devastating our environment by emitting gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The conversion of waste biomass into biochar could help to mitigate CO2 emissions, reduce the generation of CH4 emissions, and increase the carbon sequestration in the soil for sustainable climate-smart agriculture. In this study, biochar was produced from animal manure through the pyrolysis process at different temperatures, and its effect on the water-holding capacity of different types of soils and maize growth was determined. From a total of 60 ​kg dried cow manure, 20 ​kg biochar with the percentage turnover of 33% was obtained and percent yield of biochar was found to be associated with pyrolytic temperature. The water-holding capacity of sandy loamy soils was found to be increased by 1.5% by mass for each 1% biochar addition in the soil. At a higher percentage of biochar in soil, the water holding capacity was found maximum but the germination percentage was lowest because biochar holds the soil nutrients. In conclusion, manure-based biochar addition could enhance the water holding capacity of the soil and improve crop yield by conserving the rainfall water in arid regions.

Organic Catfish Feed From Cow Manure

Artificial feeding feeding is given asadditional feed to accelerate the process of fishenlargement. Self-processing of feed can beconducted by utilizing cow manure through thefermentation process and the addition of aneffective microorganism (EM4) solution. Thisresearch used 3 treatments which arefermentation for 5, 9, 11 days with each drycow manure of 2 kg with water content of 19%.The resulting feed was then tested for qualityto determine protein and fat content. The 3treatments produced levels of nutrient proteinand fat as follows: protein levels in treatment I(6.16%), II (7.57%), III (7.68%) while the fatcontent in treatment I (0.15 %), II (0.50%), III(0.60%). The results of feed from alltreatments were given to catfish. Catfishgrowth was observed for 10 days. Weight gainfrom the initial weight of 400 gr, on treatment1 to the 10th day: 500 grams, the secondtreatment to the 10th day weighing 600 grams,treatment 3 to the 10th day: 1000 grams.Resulted feed haven’t met Quality Standardsfor SNI Feed No SNI: 01-4087-2006.

Dry mesophilic and thermophilic semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of cow manure: effects of solid loading rate on the process performance

Four solid loading rates (SLRs) of 3-9 kg TS/m3 day at fixed 20% total solids (TS) content were chosen in this study and assessed under two distinct circumstances: mesophilic and thermophilic under dry semi-continuous cow manure (CM) digestion. This research aimed to investigate the production of biogas, volatile solid reductions and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentration effects on process efficiency. This was done in 100 days of operation. The findings indicated that the production of biogas and volatile solid reduction in both digesters showed similar patterns of decrements alongside increasing SLRs. In all test cases, the best performance of the digesters was found at the SLR of 3 kg TS /m3 day, which was under thermophilic conditions. The methane yielded 0.39 m3 CH4/kg VS (65 % CH4). Meanwhile, the mesophilic reactor recorded the production of 0.25 m3 CH4/kg VS (60 % CH4). A 35.89 % increment in methane production was observed in the thermophilic state. About 67 % and 62 % of volatile solids reduction were observed in the thermophilic and mesophilic digesters, respectively. In contrast, it was observed that volatile fatty acids showed inhibitory effects at the SLR of 9 kg TS/m3 day, which in turn decreased the digesters’ performance.

Assessment of the biochemical methane potential of mono- and co-digested dairy farm wastes.

This study aimed to evaluate the methane potential of mono- and co-digested dairy farm wastes. The tested substrates included manure from lactating, dry, and young cows, as well as waste milk and feed waste. The highest methane yield was achieved from the lactating cow manure, which produced an average of 412 L of CH4 kg-1 volatile solids, followed by young and dry cow manures (332 and 273 L of CH4 kg-1 volatile solids, respectively). Feed and milk yielded an average of 325 and 212 L of CH4 kg-1 volatile solids, respectively. Co-digesting the manures from lactating and young cows with feed improved methane production by 7%. However, co-digesting the dry cow manure with feed achieved only 85% of the calculated methane yield. Co-digesting manure and milk at a ratio of 70:30 enhanced the methane potential from lactating, dry, and young cow manures by 19, 30, and 37%, respectively. Moreover, co-digesting lactating, dry, and young cow manures with milk at a ratio of 30:70 enhanced the methane yield by 60, 30, and 88%, respectively. The cumulative methane production of all samples was accurately described using the Gompertz model with a maximum error of 10%. Carbohydrates contributed the most to methane potential, while proteins and lipids were limiting.

Vermicomposting of different organic materials using the epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida

PurposeThe present research was conducted with the objective of exploring the vermicomposting process, which involves different stages such as building of a vermicompost station; import of a compost earthworm (Eisenia foetida); and production of vermicompost using dry grass clippings, rice straw and cow manure. The vermicompost produced can be of significant value to the end users like farmers for replacement of chemical fertilizers and procuring better prices for the organic produce using such composting material locally available at much lower cost.MethodsVermicomposting was done using Eisenia foetida with three treatments [T1 (Rice straw), T2 (Rice straw + grass) and T3 (Grass)]. Temperature, humidity and pH were measured during the process. The population of earthworms, the production of vermicompost, and the chemical and microbial characteristics of the vermicompost were recorded after sixty (60) days and hundred twenty (120) days. The data were analyzed statistically using Sigma Plot 12.0.ResultsResults indicated that for all the three treatments the temperature was in the range of 0–35 °C, the humidity was between 80 and 100% and the pH fluctuated in the range of 5.5–7.0 and stabilized to near neutral on the 60th day. The combination of rice straw and grass had the highest rate of vermicompost production of 105 kg/m2 followed by grass and rice straw with 102.5 kg/m2 and 87 kg/m2, respectively, at the end of 120 days.ConclusionThe harvested vermicompost had an excellent nutrient status, confirmed by the chemical analyses, and contained all the essential macro- and micronutrients.

Treatment of H2S and NH3 from wastewater using a pilot-scale tray biofilter

A tray biofilter was developed and tested for treatment of high volume, low concentration H2S and NH3 from pig farm wastewater. The combination of 2 bed depth values (0.15 m. and 0.30 m.) and 3 EBRT values (0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 s) resulted in 6 systems for the experiment. The filter media used were compost : chopped coconut shell : dried cow manure : dried wastewater treatment plant sludge at 60:20:10:10 ratio. The treatment efficiency for H2S and NH3 were in the range of 78% - 89% and 57% - 80%, respectively. Overall, the systems with higher bed depth and/or higher EBRT can treat the two gases with higher efficiency. The mass loading rates, the elimination capacity, and efficiency of this study were comparable to other studies.

Life cycle assessment of superheated steam drying technology as a novel cow manure management method

Common methods of managing dairy manure are directly applying it to the farm field as a fertilizer. For direct application without any type of treatment, the majority of nutrients in the manure run off to the local river and lake during precipitation periods. The algae bloom is one of the environmental outcomes due to eutrophication of the lakes, which may jeopardize the quality of drinking water. In this study, superheated steam drying (SSD) technology is investigated as an alternative manure management method. Rapidly dried cow manure can be used as alternative fuel. Evaluations of energy payback time (EPBT) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of the SSD technology are presented in the SSD scenario and the results are compared with those of the direct field application (FA) of fresh manure and anaerobic digestion (AD). The heat required for the generation of superheated steam in the SSD scenario is provided from combustion of the dry manure to reduce energy costs. The results for the SSD process show 95% and 70% lower eutrophication and global warming potential in comparison to the FA scenario. Acidification potential for SSD turned out to be 35% higher than FA. The comparison of SSD with AD for their EPBT and normalized impacts indicated that the proposed SSD scenario has higher environmental sustainability than AD (70% lower impact), and is likely an economically better choice compared to conventional AD method (87% lower EPBT) for the future investment.

Effect of cow manure biochar on maize productivity under sandy soil condition

AbstractIn this study, we performed a greenhouse experiment to investigate the effect of cow manure biochar on maize yield, nutrient uptake and physico‐chemical properties of a dryland sandy soil. Biochar was derived from dry cow manure pyrolysed at 500 °C. Cow manure biochar was mixed with a sandy soil at the rate equivalent to 0, 10, 15 and 20 t biochar per hectare. Maize was used as a test crop. Results of the study indicated that cow manure biochar contains some important plant nutrients which significantly affected the maize crop growth. Maize yield and nutrient uptake were significantly improved with increasing the biochar mixing rate. Application of biochar at 15 and 20 t/ha mixing rates significantly increased maize grain yield by 150 and 98% as compared with the control, respectively. Maize net water use efficiency (WUE) increased by 6, 139 and 91% as compared with the control, with the 10, 15 and 20 t/ha mixing rate, respectively. Nutrient uptake by maize grain was significantly increased with higher biochar applications. Application of cow manure biochar improved the field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity of the sandy soil, as a result net WUE also increased. Results of the soil analysis after the harvesting indicated significant increase in the pH, total C, total N, Oslen‐P, exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity. The results of this study indicated that application of cow manure biochar to sandy soil is not only beneficial for crop growth but it also significantly improved the physico‐chemical properties of the coarse soil.

Removal of trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminated soil using a two-stage anaerobic-aerobic composting technique

The effect of organic carbon addition on remediation of trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminated clay soil was investigated using a two stage anaerobic-aerobic composting system. TCE removal rate and processes involved were determined. Uncontaminated clay soil was treated with composting materials (dried cow manure, rice husk and cane molasses) to represent carbon based treatments (5%, 10% and 20% OC). All treatments were spiked with TCE at 1,000 mg TCE/kg DW and incubated under anaerobic and mesophillic condition (35°C) for 8 weeks followed by continuous aerobic condition for another 6 weeks. TCE dissipation, its metabolites and biogas composition were measured throughout the experimental period. Results show that TCE degradation depended upon the amount of organic carbon (OC) contained within the composting treatments/matrices. The highest TCE removal percentage (97%) and rate (75.06 μ Mole/kg DW/day) were obtained from a treatment of 10% OC composting matrices as compared to 87% and 27.75 μ Mole/kg DW/day for 20% OC, and 83% and 38.08 μ Mole/kg DW/day for soil control treatment. TCE removal rate was first order reaction kinetics. Highest degradation rate constant (k 1 = 0.035 day− 1) was also obtained from the 10% OC treatment, followed by 20% OC (k 1 = 0.026 day− 1) and 5% OC or soil control treatment (k 1 = 0.023 day− 1). The half-life was 20, 27 and 30 days, respectively. The overall results suggest that sequential two stages anaerobic-aerobic composting technique has potential for remediation of TCE in heavy texture soil, providing that easily biodegradable source of organic carbon is present.

Characterizing pesticide sorption and degradation in macro scale biopurification systems using column displacement experiments

The efficiency of biopurification systems to treat pesticide-contaminated water was previously studied in microcosms. To validate the obtained results, macrocosm systems were set-up. Four pesticides (linuron, isoproturon, bentazone, and metalaxyl) were continuously applied to ten different organic substrate mixes. Retention of the pesticides was similar and in some cases slightly lower in the macrocosms compared to the microcosms. Differences in retention between the different mixes were however minimal. Moreover, the classification of the retention strength of the pesticides was identical to that observed in microcosms: linuron > isoproturon > metalaxyl > bentazone. Monod kinetics were used to describe delayed degradation, which occurred for isoproturon, metalaxyl and bentazone. No breakthrough of linuron was observed, thus, this pesticide was appointed as the most retained and/or degraded pesticide, followed by isoproturon, metalaxyl and bentazone. Finally, most of the matrix mixes efficient in degrading or retaining pesticides were mixes containing dried cow manure.

Microbiological and Chemical Characterization of Different Composts

Composting of agricultural waste is considered particularly important from the point-of-view of environmental protection. Degradation of organic substance results in a significant reduction of waste volume.The end product of the composting process, mature compost, can be used as soil coverage against excess loss of wastes, for mulching, for organic manure etc. The problem of composting has come into limelight in environmental studies and in agriculture.The quality of the mature compost is determined by physical, chemical and biological parameters of the composting process which, in turn, depend on initial composition of the raw materials, the technology, e.g. regular mixing and moistening and on environmental factors. Quality is the key question in compost use.We studied the composting process in compost windrows of different raw material composition. We measured temperature, humidity content, pH, organic substance content, nitrogen and carbon content.We counted the number of bacteria, microscopic fungy, ammonifying and cellulose decomposing microorganisms. We directed the composting process with turning weekly (to provide oxygen) and watering (to provide humidity content 40-60%).We set up windrows of 1 m3 volume from dry plant substances (cornstalk, pea straw, tomato stalk and crop, weeds) and cow manure not older than 1 week. The cow manure was used at ratios of 0%, 35%, 50%, 65% and 100%, respectively.We measured changes in compost temperature relationship with outside temperature until they were almoust the same. Humidity was 40-60% in most cases.At the beginning of the process, pH was slightly acidic-neutral; it later becomes neutral-slightly alkaline (pH: 6.93-8.02) as ammonia is liberated from proteins.At the end of the process, pH decreased again, due to humification.Organic substance content decreased as microorganisms mineralized them. Organic carbon content decreased gradually due to microorganisms used it as an energy.Total nitrogen content increased until middle of july and decreased gradually until than.The carbon/nitrogen rate were higher in the beginning, it decreased until july-august and increased by smaller degree until end of the process.The number of bacteria was higher in the first three weeks and between june-september. The number of cellulose degrading bacteria was the highest in the first three month, the number of ammonifying bacteria was the highest from the end of may until sepember.The number of microscopic fungy was significant in the second part of process, after july.

Eupenicillium bovifimosum, a new species from dry cow manure in Wyoming

A new species, Eupenicillium bovifimosum, was isolated from dry cow manure collected in Wyoming, USA. The outstanding morphological characteristics of this species are its robust, dense penicilli bearing long, broad columns of conidia, and its smooth-walled, unflanged ascospores which are produced within 3 wk of inoculation onto MEA. The new species produces penicillic acid, a fumagillin-like molecule, patulodin-like compounds CK2108A and CK2108B, and a compound resembling 2-[(2-hydroxypropionyl)amino]benzamide. Phylogenetic analysis using 1100 bases of the ITS and LSU DNA regions indicates that E. bovifimosum is most closely related to E. baarnense, and also to E. crustaceum, E. egyptiacum, and E. tularense.

Eupenicillium bovifimosum, a New Species from Dry Cow Manure in Wyoming

A new species, Eupenicillium bovifimosum, was isolated from dry cow manure collected in Wyoming, USA. The outstanding morphological characteristics of this species are its robust, dense penicilli bearing long, broad columns of conidia, and its smooth-walled, unflanged ascospores which are produced within 3 wk of inoculation onto MEA. The new species produces penicillic acid, a fumagillin-like molecule, patulodin-like compounds CK2108A and CK2108B, and a compound resembling 2-[(2-hydroxypropionyl)amino]benzamide. Phylogenetic analysis using 1100 bases of the ITS and LSU DNA regions indicates that E. bovifimosum is most closely related to E. baarnense, and also to E. crustaceum, E. egyptiacum, and E. tularense.

A Survey of Dairy Farming in Pennsylvania: Nutrient Management Practices and Implications

A survey was conducted to collect information on nutrient management practices on dairy farms in south-central Pennsylvania. Of the 994 responding farms, the average farm consisted of 64 lactating cows, 10 dry cows, 41 heifers, and 17 calves with 69.7ha of tillable land. Manure from lactating cows was mainly collected on a daily basis (84% of the farms) and stored as slurry or liquid (73%), while dry cow and heifer manure was collected weekly or less frequently (69 and 85% of the farms) and stored as solid stack or bedded pack (67 and 82%). Manure utilization featured consistent use of on-farm spreading, with limited incorporation, to corn or small grain fields before planting. Spreading on perennial forages or pasture was also common. Irrigation or injection of manure occurred on less than 5% of the farms. Only 20% of the farms reported manure nutrient testing, contrasting to over 90% for soil testing. Farm advisors and their services can be of vital importance in helping producers make conscientious management decisions for enhanced nutrient utilization. For example, ration balancing involved the services of feed and mineral sales representatives (85% of the farms), independent consultants (12%), and veterinarians (5%). Manure nutrient crediting to determine manure application rates was made by fertilizer dealers (40%), crop advisors and independent consultants (31%), and others. Nutrient management strategies and efforts must address the specific needs of farms with different animal densities and nutrient balances in order to be effective and applicable on the majority of farms.

Growth and Composition of Radish under Various Regimes of Nitrogen Nutrition

Abstract In greenhouse studies with radish (Raphanus sativus L.), KNO3, (NH4)2SO4, urea, dried sewage sludge, and dried cow manure were applied at 200, 400, and 800 mgN/1,200 g soil with 0 or 10 ppm of nitrapyrin. Soil analysis for pH, and indicated that nitrification was inhibited throughout the growth (38 days) of the plants. Nitrogen deficiency limited plant growth at the 2 low rates of application of organic fertilizers. With the ammoniacal fertilizers, toxicity restricted root and shoot growth at the highest rate of N and especially in the presence of nitrapyrin relative to the KNO3 regimes. An interaction of nitrapyrin with the organic fertilizers limited root growth. This restriction was attributed partially to toxicity. Some indication of nitrapyrin toxicity was suggested by plant foliar appearance with the organic fertilizers but not with the inorganic sources. Ca and Mg concentrations varied with treatment, with increased rate of N and nitrapyrin addition sharply restricting their accumulation, especially with the ammoniacal and organic fertilizers. Percentage of K in the plants changed in a reciprocal manner to that of Ca or Mg. Compositional changes suggested that toxicity was a major factor causing a limitation of growth with the combination of nitrapyrin with ammoniacal or organic fertilizers.

The Effect of Feeding Laying Hens Various Levels of Cow Manure on the Pigmentation of Egg Yolks

Dried cow manure was added at the rate of 0, 2.5, 5, or 10 kilograms per 100 kilograms of diets containing 0 and 23 milligrams of xanthophylls per kilogram of diet to determine the effect on blood xanthophyll levels and the pigmentation of yolks produced by hens on these diets. There was a high positive linear correlation between the amount of cow manure added and the amount of xanthophyll in the blood, the amount of xanthophyll in the egg yolk, and the yolk visual score. There was a high negative linear correlation between pigmenting efficiency and the amount of cow manure added to the diet. Although cow manure was a good source of xanthophylls, it was not efficiently utilized by the hen as a source of xanthophylls.