Current status of cow dung as a bioresource for sustainable development

Evaluating the quality of sediments in streams draining contrasting land-use areas in Osogbo metropolis, southwestern Nigeria

The attendant effects of urbanization on the environment and human health are evaluable by measuring the potentially harmful element (PHE) concentrations in environmental media such as stream sediments. To evaluate the effect of urbanization in Osogbo Metropolis, the quality of stream sediments from a densely-populated area with commercial/industrial activities was contrasted with sediments from a sparsely-populated area with minimal anthropogenic input.Forty samples were obtained: 29 from Okoko stream draining a Residential/Commercial Area (RCA, n = 14) and an Industrial Area (IA, n = 15), and 11 from Omu stream draining a sparsely-populated area (SPA). The samples were air-dried, sieved to < 75 micron fraction, and analysed for PHEs using inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Index of geoaccumulation (Igeo), pollution index (PI), ecological risk factor (Er) and index (ERI) were used for assessment. Inter-elemental relationships and source identification were done using Pearson's correlation matrix and principal component analysis (PCA).PHE concentrations in the stream sediments were RCA: Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Sr > Ni > Co, IA: Zn > Cr > Ni > Co > Pb > Cu > Sr and SPA: Zn > Co > Cr > Cu > Sr > Ni > Pb. Igeo calculations revealed moderate-heavy contamination of Cu, Pb and Zn in parts of RCA, moderate-heavy contamination of Zn in IA while SPA had moderate contamination of Co and Zn. PI values revealed that stream sediments of RCA are extremely polluted, while those of IA and SPA are moderately and slightly polluted, respectively.The pollution of the stream sediments in RCA and IA is adduced to anthropogenic activities like vehicular traffic, automobile repairs/painting, blacksmithing/welding and metal scraping. In SPA however, the contamination resulted from the application of herbicides/fertilizers for agricultural purposes.

Effect of Cow Dung Additions on Tropical and Mediterranean Earth Mortars-Mechanical Performance and Water Resistance

Cow dung (CD) is a material that has been used for millennia by humanity as a stabilizer in earth building techniques in vernacular architecture. However, this stabilization has been little addressed scientifically. In this study, the effect of CD additions was assessed on earth mortars produced with one type of earth from Brazil and two other types from Portugal (from Monsaraz and Caparica). The effect of two volumetric proportions of CD additions were assessed: 10% and 20% of earth + sand. The German standard DIN 18947 was used to perform the physical and mechanical tests, and classify the mortars. In comparison to the reference mortars without CD, the additions reduced linear shrinkage and cracking. An increase in flexural and compressive strengths was not observed only in mortars produced with earth from Monsaraz. In mortars produced with the earth from Caparica, the addition of 10% of CD increased flexural strength by 15% and compressive strength by 34%. For mortars produced with the earth from Brazil, the addition of 10% of CD increased these mechanical strengths by 40%. The increase in adhesive strength and water resistance promoted by the CD additions was observed in mortars produced with all three types of earth. Applied on ceramic brick, the proportion of 10% of CD increased the adherence by 100% for the three types of earth. Applied on adobe, the same proportion of CD also increased it more than 50%. For the water immersion test, the CD additions made possible for the mortar specimens not to disintegrate after a 30 min immersion, with the 20% proportion being more efficient. The effects of the CD on mechanical performance, including adhesion, were more significant on the tropical earth mortars but the effects on water resistance were more significant on the Mediterranean earthen mortars. CD has shown its positive effects and potential for both tropical and Mediterranean earthen plasters and renders tested, justifying being further studied as an eco-efficient bio-stabilizer.

A Decrease in the Hardness of Feces with Added Glucosylceramide Extracted from Koji In Vitro-A Working Hypothesis of Health Benefits of Dietary Glucosylceramide

Skin barrier function, prevent colon cancer, head and neck cancer, and decrease liver cholesterol. However, the mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we propose a new working hypothesis regarding the health benefits and functions of glucosylceramide: decreased fecal hardness. This hypothesis was verified using an in vitro hardness test. The hardness of feces supplemented with glucosylceramide was significantly lower than that of the control. Based on these results, a new working hypothesis of dietary glucosylceramide was conceived: glucosylceramide passes through the small intestine, interacts with intestinal bacteria, increases the tolerance of these bacteria toward secondary bile acids, and decreases the hardness of feces, and these factors synergistically result in in vivo effects. This hypothesis forms the basis for further studies on the health benefits and functions of dietary glucosylceramides.

Techno-economic and environmental analyses of the pyrolysis of food waste to produce bio-products

Food waste has become a source of concern as it is generated abundantly worldwide and needs to be valorised into new products. In this study, cucumber, tomato, and carrot wastes were investigated as pyrolysis feedstocks as a single component (cucumber), a binary component mixture (cucumber and tomato), and a ternary component blend (cucumber, tomato, and carrot). Fourteen scenarios were simulated and evaluated based on varying the feedstock blend (single, binary, and tertiary), temperature (300 and 500 °C), and feedstock moisture content (5, 20, and 40%). Using an established empirical model, the effect of these parameters on product yields, techno-economic implications, energy requirements, and life cycle analysis (LCA) outcomes were investigated. The best performers of each scenario were determined, and their strengths and weaknesses were identified and compared with other scenarios. In terms of product yields, all three systems (single, binary, and tertiary) followed a similar pattern: bio-oil yields increased as temperature and feedstock moisture content increased, while biochar yields decreased as temperature and feedstock moisture content increased. The production of syngas, on the other hand, was only observed at elevated temperatures. The total energy requirement exhibited an increase with increasing temperature and feedstock moisture content. The economic evaluation revealed that the return on investment (ROI) value for the single component at 5% moisture content at 300 °C is 29%, with a payback period (PB) of only 3.4 years, which is potentially very appealing. The water footprint increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature but decreased with increasing moisture content in all scenarios. The land footprint is observed to remain constant despite changes in process conditions. The study's findings contribute to the pyrolysis process's scalability, technological advancement, and commercialisation.

Evaluation of selected organic fertilizers on conditioning soil health of smallholder households in Karagwe, Northwestern Tanzania

Soil management is a strategy for improving soil suffering from problems such as low pH, nutrient deficiency, and erosion. The study evaluated the effects of human urine (HU), biogas slurry (BS), standard compost (StC), animal manure (AM), and synthetic fertilizer (SF) in comparison with no soil fertility management (NFM) on soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic carbon (SOC), soil moisture content, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) in the Karagwe district, a Northwestern Tanzania. Four household farms representing each soil amendment type were selected for soil sampling. A total of 192 soil samples were collected and air-dried. After laboratory analysis, BS-enriched soil had the highest pH (6.558), CEC (23.945 cmol+/kg), SOC (5.573%), soil moisture (5.573%), N (0.497%), P (247.130 mg/kg), K (3.036 cmol+/kg), Ca (18.983 cmol+/kg), Mg (4.076 cmol+/kg), Na (2.960 cmol+/kg), and Cu (12.548 mg/kg). Similar soil properties were lower in NFM than in the other soils. The soil properties on the chosen farms did not differ significantly depending on the sampling zone for each organic fertilizer. Therefore, the result indicates that all evaluated organic fertilizers improved soil health compared to NFM, but BS and HU fertilizers led to relatively better soil health improvements than StC, AM, and SF.

A Systematic Review on the Continuous Cropping Obstacles and Control Strategies in Medicinal Plants

Continuous cropping (CC) is a common practice in agriculture, and usually causes serious economic losses due to soil degeneration, decreased crop yield and quality, and increased disease incidence, especially in medicinal plants. Continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs) are mainly due to changes in soil microbial communities, nutrient availability, and allelopathic effects. Recently, progressive studies have illustrated the molecular mechanisms of CCOs, and valid strategies to overcome them. Transcriptomic and metabolomics analyses revealed that identified DEGs (differently expressed genes) and metabolites involved in the response to CCOs are involved in various biological processes, including photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and bioactive compounds. Soil improvement is an effective strategy to overcome this problem. Soil amendments can improve the microbial community by increasing the abundance of beneficial microorganisms, soil fertility, and nutrient availability. In this review, we sum up the recent status of the research on CCOs in medicinal plants, the combination of transcriptomic and metabolomics studies, and related control strategies, including uses of soil amendments, crop rotation, and intercropping. Finally, we propose future research trends for understanding CCOs, and strategies to overcome these obstacles and promote sustainable agriculture practices in medicinal plants.

Investigating the challenges of biogas provision in water limited environments through laboratory scale biodigesters

The potential for biogas provision through household-scale anaerobic digestion in rural sub-Saharan Africa is limited due to perceived water shortages. The most common substrate is animal dung diluted 1:1 with water. Two experimental methods tested the potential of reducing water demand. The first experiment compared the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and volatile solid removal of four cow dung dilutions ranging from 3.5-10.6% total solids. In the second experiment, bioslurry filtrate was recirculated back into the fresh substrate at different concentrations. The highest COD removal rate of 28.3% was obtained from mixing equal volumes of dung with filtrate (mean total solids 7.4%) while the highest methane production rate of 0.40 g/L/day, calculated from COD balance, was obtained from undiluted cow dung (total solids 10.6%). Results suggest the potential for a 75-100% reduction in water demand.

Scientific characterization methods for better utilization of cattle dung and urine: a concise review

Cattle are usually raised for food, manure, leather, therapeutic, and draught purposes. Biowastes from cattle, such as dung and urine, harbor a diverse group of crucial compounds, metabolites/chemicals, and microorganisms that may benefit humans for agriculture, nutrition, therapeutics, industrial, and other utility products. Several bioactive compounds have been identified in cattle dung and urine, which possess unique properties and may vary based on agro-climatic zones and feeding practices. Therefore, cattle dung and urine have great significance, and a balanced nutritional diet may be a key to improved quality of these products/by-products. This review primarily focuses on the scientific aspects of biochemical and microbial characterization of cattle biowastes. Various methods including genomics for analyzing cattle dung and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy for cattle urine have been reviewed. The presented information might open doors for the further characterization of cattle resources for heterogeneous applications in the production of utility items and addressing research gaps. Methods for cattle's dung and urine characterization.

Effect of organic loading on anaerobic digestion of cow dung: Methane production and kinetic study

Organic loading influences the effectiveness of producing biogas through anaerobic digestion. This study set out to investigate the effect of organic loading on the anaerobic mesophilic digestion of cow dung, the parameters involved in the digestion process and to evaluate the kinetics. Anaerobic digestion of cow dung at different organic loading (gVS/L) of 14 gVS/L, 18gVS/L, 22 gVS/L, 26 gVS/L and 30 gVS/L were investigated. Increasing the organic loading increased the methane yield of the cow dung. The highest cumulative methane yield was observed at 30 gVS/L with 63.42 mL CH₄/gVS while the highest biogas yield was reported at 192.53 mL/gVS with the highest methane content of 89%. In addition, the modified Gompertz model equation with an R² of 0.9980 demonstrated strong consistency and a good fit between predicted and experimental data. The high number of substrates added to the systems when increasing the organic loading increased the λ and slow down the nutrient transport and hydrolysis. This study provides current information on the effects of organic loading on the anaerobic digestion of cow dung in batch mode, including experimental conditions and operational parameters.

Anaerobic digestion as a tool to manage eutrophication and associated greenhouse gas emission

Eutrophicated inland water bodies are noticed to be one of the contributing factors to greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. Direct discharge of untreated or partially treated water is a major concern. Microalgae-based technology and management are regarded as one of the potential nature-based approaches to combat eutrophication. In turn, the microalgae facilitate the recovery of GHGs contributing compounds in the form of organic biomass. The recovered algal biomass can be harnessed for the production of biofuels and other bio-products, like biofertilizer, using anaerobic digestion. By virtue, circular bio-economy can be achieved alongside mitigating GHGs emissions. Before implementing, it is vital to thoroughly explore the links between the process and potential alternatives for wastewater treatment, waste valorization, biofuel production, and land usage. Thus, the present review discusses the impact of eutrophication on ecology and environment, current technologies for mitigating eutrophication and GHGs, and energy recovery through the anaerobic digestion of algal biomass. Further, the processes at the intercept of wastewater treatment and biogas production were reviewed to leverage the potential of anaerobic digestion for making a circular bioeconomy framework.

Hydrothermal carbonization of cow dung with human urine as a solvent for hydrochar: An experimental and kinetic study

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and efficient physicochemical and biochemical process for converting biomass to products with added value. The objective and novelty of this work is to produce and investigate the qualities of hydrochar fuel (as a solid fuel) from cow manure using human urine as a solvent in order to find a suitable replacement for conventional fuel (i.e., coal). HTC based studies were conducted in batch, at three different reaction temperatures (180 °C, 200 °C, and 220 °C) and two different reaction periods (2 and 4 h). For kinetic analysis and reaction mechanism of the combustion behavior of the produced hydrochar, the model free kinetic methods and the z-master plot were used. From the model free kinetics methods, it was observed that the resultant optimum average activation energy and pre-exponential factor for the produced hydrochar at 180 °C and 2 h reaction period (HTC_180_2) were ∼120 kJ/mol and ∼5.59 × 10²⁵ sec^-1, respectively. In addition, the little variation between ΔE_α and ΔH_α (∼10 kJ/mol) suggests that the combustion of produced hydrochar (HTC_180_2) occurred with minimal energy use. Furthermore, the hydrochar exhibited its highest heating value at 200 °C for 4 h (HTC_200_4) which was 1.44 times higher than the raw dung (13.4 MJ/kg) due to the HTC process. The produced hydrochar demonstrated a significant improvement compared to the conventional solvent, i.e. water.

Soil amendment with cow dung modifies the soil nutrition and microbiota to reduce the ginseng replanting problem

Ginseng is a profitable crop worldwide; however, the ginseng replanting problem (GRP) is a major threat to its production. Soil amendment is a non-chemical method that is gaining popularity for alleviating continuous cropping obstacles, such as GRP. However, the impact of soil amendment with either cow dung or canola on GRP reduction and the associated soil microbiota remains unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of soil amendment with cow dung, canola seed powder, and without amendment (control), on the survival of ginseng seedling transplants, the soil bacterial and fungal communities, and their associated metabolic functions. The results showed that cow dung increased ginseng seedling survival rate by 100 percent and had a remarkable positive effect on ginseng plant growth compared to control, whereas canola did not. Cow dung improved soil nutritional status in terms of pH, electrical conductivity, NO 3 - , total carbon, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus. The amplicon sequencing results using Illumina MiSeq showed that canola had the strongest negative effect in reducing soil bacterial and fungal diversity. On the other hand, cow dung stimulated beneficial soil microbes, including Bacillus, Rhodanobacter, Streptomyces, and Chaetomium, while suppressing Acidobacteriota. Community-level physiological profiling analysis using Biolog Ecoplates containing 31 different carbon sources showed that cow dung soil had a different metabolic activity with higher utilization rates of carbohydrates and polymer carbon sources, mainly Tween 40 and beta-methyl-d-glucoside. These carbon sources were most highly associated with Bacillota. Furthermore, predicted ecological function analyses of bacterial and fungal communities showed that cow dung had a higher predicted function of fermentation and fewer functions related to plant pathogens and fungal parasites, signifying its potential to enhance soil suppressiveness. Co-occurrence network analysis based on random matrix theory (RMT) revealed that cow dung transformed the soil microbial network into a highly connected and complex network. This study is the first to report the alleviation of GRP using cow dung as a soil amendment, and the study contributes significantly to our understanding of how the soil microbiota and metabolic alterations via cow dung can aid in GRP alleviation.

Valorization of phyto-biomass with tertiary combination of animal dung for enriched vermicompost production

A study was conducted for 90 days in two cycles on 45^thday (Cycle I), and 90th day (Cycle II) in 144 vermibins with precomposted cow dung (T1), elephant dung (T2), cow dung + elephant dung (T3) in combination with leaf substrates of Ficus religiosa, Azadirachta indica, Terminalia catappa, Carica papaya, Vitex negundo, Acalypha indica and Borassus flabellifer to generate nutrient-enriched vermicompost. Different vermibin feedstock materials were retained as experimental setup in other substrates with earthworm (vermicompost) and without earthworm (compost). This method was employed in the current study to decompose environmental leaf debris into the earthworm's mass production and transform it into high-value manure for long-term soil fertility control. The majority of the substrates exhibit pH and electrical conductivity in vermicomposts showed an increment while the total organic carbon and carbon to nitrogen ratio were significantly lowered. A prominent percentage increment of total NPK contents (P < 0.05) in vermicompost over initial values (N: 7.09-164.03; P: 4.39-101.09; K: 0.45-84.10). Among the vermibed substrates, Ficus religiosa leaf litter mixed with T3 showed stabilized cocoons and juveniles in Cycle I (45 days), while sub-adults and adults growth was favored in Cycle II (90 days). The higher reproductive potential of earthworms could be due to the composition and palatability of the substrate combination. This study provides a platform for utilizing leaf wastes in combination with animal wastes amended to reproduce earthworms, nutrient enrichment which could benefit soil fertility improvement.

Cow dung extract mediated green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles for agricultural applications

In the present study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) were synthesized using cow dung extract to apply sustainable agriculture from rural resources. Studies on their antibacterial potential against E. coli DH 5 alpha indicated lower antimicrobial activities than the bulk Zn and commercial Zn nanoparticles. Compared with control and commercial ZnO nanoparticles, the maximum seed germination, root length, and shoot length were observed after the priming of synthesized ZnO NPs. This study suggests that ZnO may significantly increase seed germination and have lower antimicrobial potential. Further, the lower in-vitro cellular leakage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production provided new hope for using cow dung extract mediated nanoparticles for agricultural and industrial applications.

Characterization of the Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Cow Dung Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Comparative Study with Corn Stalk Fiber Composites and Sisal Fiber Composites

Natural fibers and their composites have attracted much attention due to the growing energy crisis and environmental awareness. In this work, a natural lignocellulosic fiber was extracted from cow dung waste and its potential use as reinforcing material in resin-based polymer composites was evaluated. For this purpose, cow dung fiber-reinforced composites (CDFC) were fabricated, and their mechanical and morphological properties were systematically investigated and compared with corn stalk fiber composites (CSFC) and sisal fiber composites (SFC). The results showed that the addition of cow dung fibers reduced the density of the polymer composites, increased the water absorption, and enhanced the impact strength and shear strength. The highest impact and shear strengths were obtained at 6 wt.% and 9 wt.% of fiber loading, respectively, which increased by 23.8% and 34.6% compared to the composite without the fibers. Further comparisons revealed that at the same fiber addition level, the CDFC exhibited better mechanical properties than the CSFC; notably, the CDFC-3 (adding 3 wt.% of fiber loading) had an impact strength closer to the SFC-3. Furthermore, an SEM analysis suggested that the cow dung fibers exhibited a rough and crinkly surface with more node structures, and presented good interfacial bonding with the composite matrix. This work revealed that cow dung fibers are a promising candidate as reinforcement for resin-based polymer composites, which promotes an alternative application for cow dung waste resources in the automotive components field.

Life-cycle assessment approach for municipal solid waste management system of Delhi city

The life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach with route optimization technique was adopted in the present study to evaluate environmental and economic aspects associated with the prevalent waste management system in Delhi city. With an objective of cost minimization and abating environmental hazards from waste transportation systems, ArcGIS was used to identify the most appropriate route for waste transportation. The study was conducted considering four landfills located at Bawana, Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla present in Delhi city. Landfilling, composting, anaerobic digestion, and recycling methods were analyzed for global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), acidification potential, abiotic resource depletion potential and photochemical oxidation potential parameters using LCA software GaBiPro. The results from the LCA studies for the municipal solid waste management system of Delhi city revealed that transportation emissions and landfilling negatively impact the environment. The effect of recycling rate on the landfilling, composting, anaerobic digestion was also studied using sensitivity analysis. Results of sensitivity analysis depicted that recycling of waste is inversely related to the impact categories. Overall, the results exhibited a detrimental effect of landfilling on the environment in terms of GWP and EP. Further, considering the geospatial analysis, two waste recycling stations are proposed in the vicinity of existing waste management plants to reduce the time and cost of waste transport from the landfills to the waste management plants.

Ultrafine fully vulcanized natural rubber modified by graft-copolymerization with styrene and acrylonitrile monomers

This research aims to modify ultrafine fully vulcanized powdered natural rubber (UFPNR) prepared by emulsion graft-copolymerization with styrene (St) and acrylonitrile (AN) monomers onto deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR). The effects of monomers content and St/AN weight ratio on grafting efficiency and thermal stability of the developed DPNR-g-(PS-co-PAN) were investigated. The results showed that grafting efficiency was enhanced up to 86% with monomers content 15 phr and weight ratio St:AN 80:20. The obtained DPNR-g-(PS-co-PAN) was radiated by an electron beam at various doses, followed by a spray drying process to produce UFPNR. The obtained modified UFPNR particles irradiated at dose up to 300 kGy were relatively spherical with a particle size of approximately 4.4 µm. Furthermore, the degradation temperature of 5wt% loss (Td5) of UFPNR was found in the range of 349-356 °C. The results revealed that the modified UFPNR is suitable as a toughening filler for a broader spectrum of polymers.

Optimization of subcritical water pre-treatment for biogas enhancement on co-digestion of pineapple waste and cow dung using the response surface methodology

The optimal pre-treatment method and conditions depend on the types of lignocellulose present due to the complexity and the variability of biomass chemical structures. This study optimized subcritical water pre-treatment to ensure maximum methane production from pineapple waste prior to anaerobic co-digestion with cow dung using the response surface methodology. A central composite design was achieved with three different factors and one response. A total of 20 pre-treatment runs were performed at different temperatures, reaction times and water to solid ratios suggesting optimum values for subcritical water pre-treatment at 128.52℃ for 5 min with 5.67 to 1 water to solid ratio. Under these conditions, methane yield increased from 59.09 to 85.05 mL CH₄/g VS with an increase of 23% biogas yield and 44% methane yield from the untreated. All pre-treatments above 200℃ showed reductions in biogas yield. Compositional analysis showed slight reduction of lignin and increase in α-cellulose content after the pre-treatment. Analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis verified the presence of cellulosic material in pre-treated pineapple waste. Most of the hemicellulose was solubilized in the liquid samples after SCW pre-treatment. The crystallinity index of pineapple waste was reduced from 57.58% (untreated) to 54.29% (pre-treated). Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the structural modification of pre-treated pineapple waste for better microbial attack. Subcritical water pre-treatment is feasible as a promising method to enhance the anaerobic co-digestion process. Further study should be conducted to assess the scale-up of the process from pre-treatment to anaerobic digestion at the pilot plant level.

Comparative adsorptive behaviour of cow dung ash and starch as potential eco-friendly matrices for controlled organophosphorus pesticides delivery

The work reported herein explores the viability of cow dung ash (CDA) as a matrix for controlled pesticide delivery, by comparing its adsorptive characteristics towards two organophosphorus pesticides with those of starch, conventionally utilized in designing controlled pesticide delivery systems. CDA was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Data for pesticide adsorption on the surfaces correlate well with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, with the former isotherm giving a slightly better fit (R² ≥ 0.90) than the latter (R² ≥ 0.81). Values of the adsorption parameters K_L and R_L indicate favourable pesticide adsorption on both surfaces. Desorption is the microscopic reverse of adsorption; both processes obey pseudo-second-order kinetics. The implication of this kinetic form is a mechanism in which adsorbate diffusion to the polymer surface and its transport into the polymer interior are important events. The isothermal and kinetic ratios, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\frac{{K_{L}^{CDA} }}{{K_{L}^{Starch} }} = 3.8$$\end{document}KLCDAKLStarch=3.8 and 4.0, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\frac{{k_{2}^{CDA} }}{{k_{2}^{Starch} }} = 1.3$$\end{document}k2CDAk2Starch=1.3 and 0.6, and \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\frac{{k_{ - 2}^{CDA} }}{{k_{ - 2}^{Starch} }} = 5.2$$\end{document}k-2CDAk-2Starch=5.2 and 1.0 at pH 7.0 and 27 °C, compare the adsorptive behaviour of diazinon and dichlorvos, respectively, on CDA and starch. These parameters are of the same order of magnitude, signalling that CDA is as potentially viable as starch for use as a matrix for pesticide-controlled delivery.

Micrococcus luteus strain CGK112 isolated from cow dung demonstrated efficient biofilm-forming ability and degradation potential toward high-density polyethylene (HDPE)

Biodegradation is the most promising environmentally sustainable method that offers a significant opportunity with minimal negative environmental consequences while searching for solutions to this global problem of plastic pollution that has now spread to almost everywhere in the entire world. In the present work, HDPE-degrading bacterial strain CGK112 was isolated from the fecal matter of a cow. The bacterial strain was identified as Micrococcus luteus CGK112 by 16S rRNA sequence coding analysis. Significant weight loss, i.e., 3.85% was recorded in the HDPE film treated with strain CGK112 for 90 days. The surface micromorphology was examined using FE-SEM, which revealed spectacular bacterial colonization as well as structural deformation. Furthermore, the EDX study indicated a significant decrease in the atomic percentage of carbon content, whereas FTIR analysis confirmed functional groups alternation as well as an increase in the carbonyl index which can be attributed to the metabolic activity of biofilm. Our findings provide insight into the capacity of our strain CGK112 to colonize and utilize HDPE as a single carbon source, thus promoting its degradation.

Demonstration of a plant-microbe integrated system for treatment of real-time textile industry wastewater

The real-time textile dyes wastewater contains hazardous and recalcitrant chemicals that are difficult to degrade by conventional methods. Such pollutants, when released without proper treatment into the environment, impact water quality and usage. Hence, the textile dye effluent is considered a severe environmental pollutant. It contains mixed contaminants like dyes, sodium bicarbonate, acetic acid. The physico-chemical treatment of these wastewaters produces a large amount of sludge and costly. Acceptance of technology by the industry mandates that it should be efficient, cost-effective and the treated water is safe for reuse. A sequential anaerobic-aerobic plant-microbe system with acclimatized microorganisms and vetiver plants, was evaluated at a pilot-scale on-site. At the end of the sequential process, decolorization and total aromatic amine (TAA) removal were 78.8% and 69.2% respectively. Analysis of the treated water at various stages using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)) Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) indicated that the dyes were decolourized and the aromatic amine intermediates formed were degraded to give aliphatic compounds. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis showed interaction of microbe with the roots of vetiver plants. Toxicity analysis with zebrafish indicated the removal of toxins and teratogens.

Tubular Sediment-Water Electrolytic Fuel Cell for Dual-Phase Hexavalent Chromium Reduction

A novel tubular sediment-water electrolytic fuel cell (SWEFC) was fabricated for the reduction of Cr(VI) in a dual-phase system. The approach simulates a standing water body with Cr(VI)-contaminated overlying water (electrolyte) and bottom sediment phase with electrodes placed in both the phases, supplemented with urea as a potential electron donor. Cr(VI) reduction efficiency of 93.2 ± 1.3% from electrolyte (in 1.5 h) and 81.2 ± 1.3% from the sediment phase (in 8 h) with an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 1,000 mg/L was observed in a single-cell configuration. The effect of initial Cr(VI) concentration, variation in sediment salinity and pH, and different electron donors on the SWEFC performance were systematically investigated. SWEFC showed enhanced performance with 2.4-fold higher current (193.9 mA) at 400 mg/L Cr(VI) concentration when cow dung was used as a low-cost alternative to urea as an electron donor. Furthermore, reactor scalability studies were carried out with nine-anode and nine-cathode configuration (3 L electrolyte and 2 kg sediment), and reduction efficiencies of 98.9 ± 0.9% (in 1 h) and 97.6 ± 2.2% (in 8 h) were observed from the electrolyte and sediment phases, respectively. The proposed sediment-water electrolytic fuel cell can be an advanced and environmentally benign strategy for Cr(VI) remediation from contaminated sediment-water interfaces along with electricity generation.

Traditionally used polyherbals in a southern African therapeutic context

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In African traditional medicine, there are several plant species that are used in combination with either other plant species or non-plant derived combinations such as sugar and honey, salt and vinegar, milk, fat etc. This review examines the role of these combinations and postulates the scientific and therapeutic validation of such combinations.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study reviewed the ethnopharmacological literature and documented the use of southern African plant combinations to find a scientific rationale for such combinations, and provide recommendations for future studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethnobotanical books and online databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed and Google Scholar were used to find ethnobotanical studies within the southern African context that focus on the combinations of plants with other plants or various additional ingredients. The scientific literature was examined to determine if evidence was available to substantiate such combinations.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-seven medicinal plant (plant-to-plant) combinations that are used in the southern African traditional healing system were recorded. These plant combinations were used against infections of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and skin as well other non-infectious diseases such as reproductive and psychiatric disorders. Respiratory infections were the most documented infections to be treated using plant combinations. The plant that was documented to be most commonly used in combination with other plants was Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd. While plant-plant combinations have drawn a marked interest, comparatively, plant-adjuvant (e.g. milk, sugar, honey, salt, vinegar, fats) combinations have attracted less research interest. Milk was reported as the most used additional ingredient in combination with medicinal plants. The combination of animal urine and dung with medicinal plants has been reported as a treatment for treat prostate infections, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Other ingredients such as clay and flour were also documented, and these are often mixed with medicinal plants to treat fever, stomach ailments, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and skin conditions. Although combination therapy has been frequently reported in ethnobotanical records, over 90% of the combinations reviewed still need to be scientifically validated.

CONCLUSION

Scientific reports on the antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and other pharmacological effects of these combinations may offer an understanding of traditional combination therapy. In addition, investigation into the mechanisms of action of these combinations are also recommended to supplement the findings. Nonetheless, the use of plant combinations is still an untapped research area in southern Africa and there is a need to validate the use of those documented combinations to obtain a better understanding of combined traditional medicinal plant use.

Overview on agricultural potentials of biogas slurry (BGS): applications, challenges, and solutions

The residual slurry obtained from the anaerobic digestion (AD) of biogas feed substrates such as livestock dung is known as BGS. BGS is a rich source of nutrients and bioactive compounds having an important role in establishing diverse microbial communities, accelerating nutrient use efficiency, and promoting overall soil and plant health management. However, challenges such as lower C/N transformation rates, ammonia volatilization, high pH, and bulkiness limit their extensive applications. Here we review the strategies of BGS valorization through microbial and organomineral amendments. Such cohesive approaches can serve dual purposes viz. green organic inputs for sustainable agriculture practices and value addition of biomass waste. The literature survey has been conducted to identify the knowledge gaps and critically analyze the latest technological interventions to upgrade the BGS for potential applications in agriculture fields. The major points are as follows: (1) Bio/nanotechnology-inspired approaches could serve as a constructive platform for integrating BGS with other organic materials to exploit microbial diversity dynamics through multi-substrate interactions. (2) Advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) pave an ideal pathway to study the complex microflora and translate the potential information into bioprospecting of BGS to ameliorate existing bio-fertilizer formulations. (3) Nanoparticles (NPs) have the potential to establish a link between syntrophic bacteria and methanogens through direct interspecies electron transfer and thereby contribute towards improved efficiency of AD. (4) Developments in techniques of nutrient recovery from the BGS facilities' negative GHGs emissions and energy-efficient models for nitrogen removal. (5) Possibilities of formulating low-cost substrates for mass-multiplication of beneficial microbes, bioprospecting of such microbes to produce bioactive compounds of anti-phytopathogenic activities, and developing BGS-inspired biofertilizer formulations integrating NPs, microbial inoculants, and deoiled seed cakes have been examined.

Cow products: boon to human health and food security

The world population exceeded 7.8 billion people in 2020 and is predicted to reach 9.9 billion by 2050 as per the current increasing rate of 25%. In view of this, ensuring human health and food security has become an issue of key importance to countries with different degrees of economic development. At the same time, the livestock sector plays a strategic role in improving the economic, environmental, and sociocultural stewardship of any nation. The cow (Bos indicus) has held a distinctive role in human history ever since its domestication because of its valued harvests like dairy products (milk, clarified butter, yogurt, curd, and buttermilk) excreta like dung and urine. These products, except dung, provide all the necessary energy and nutrients to ensure the proper growth and development of the human. They are the source of many bioactive substances, which possess immense pharmacotherapeutic action against various physiological, metabolic and infectious disorders, including COVID-19. The use of urine and dung can be considered a low-cost agricultural practice for farmers and has been extensively used in modern agriculture practices to ensure food security via soil fertility, plant pathogens, and pests. Cow urine mediated synthesized nanomaterial also display distinctive characteristics and novel applications in various fields of science and technology. Thus, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cow products, describing their biochemical constituents, bioactivities, and their utilization in the area ranging from human welfare to agriculture sustainability. An attempt is also made to present possible applications in bioenergy production and pollution reduction.

Bioprospecting of cowdung microflora for sustainable agricultural, biotechnological and environmental applications

The review aims at highlighting the manifold applications of cow dung (CD) and CD microflora covering agricultural, biotechnological and environmental applications. The update research on CD microflora and CD in agricultural domain such as biocontrol, growth promotion, organic fertilizer, sulfur oxidation, phosphorus solubilization, zinc mobilization and underlying mechanisms involved in these processes are discussed. The significance of CD applications in tropical agriculture in context to climate change is briefly emphasized. The advances on genomics and proteomics of CD microflora for enhanced yield of enzymes, organic acids, alternative fuels (biomethane and biohydrogen) and other biocommodities, and environmental applications in context to biosorption of heavy metals, biodegradation of xenobiotics, etc. have been given critical attention.

High power microbial fuel cell operating at low temperature using cow dung waste

Moving towards green technology, alternatives to current detrimental, unsustainable, and expensive energy applications for eco-friendly energy are attracting great attention. Resource recycling and the convenient treatment of animal waste to diminish its nature impact are recently momentous subjects. Microbial fuel cells used cow waste have remarkable potential in electrical energy generation for clean, renewable and sustainable operation. In this study, double-chambered MFC was manufactured using cow manure as raw material at the anode chamber, graphite as the anode and cathode electrodes, fountain water in the cathode chamber, and proton exchange membrane. Because bacteria a catalytic reaction for the latent chemical energy of the cow manure was effectuated as a result of this, MFCs produced electricity. Electricity production performance of this MFC at low temperature (0–10 °C) conditions was examined. This MFC produced a maximum of 204.9 ± 0.1 mV open circuit voltage and 57.387 mW/m2 power density under low temperature conditions. In particular, the sustainability and applicability of MFCs have been increased thanks to this operation done at low temperatures (0–10 °C).

Microbiome signature and diversity regulates the level of energy production under anaerobic condition

The microbiome of the anaerobic digester (AD) regulates the level of energy production. To assess the microbiome diversity and composition in different stages of anaerobic digestion, we collected 16 samples from the AD of cow dung (CD) origin. The samples were categorized into four groups (Group-I, Group-II, Group-III and Group-IV) based on the level of energy production (CH₄%), and sequenced through whole metagenome sequencing (WMS). Group-I (n = 2) belonged to initial time of energy production whereas Group-II (n = 5), Group-III (n = 5), and Group-IV (n = 4) had 21-34%, 47-58% and 71-74% of CH₄, respectively. The physicochemical analysis revealed that level of energy production (CH₄%) had significant positive correlation with digester pH (r = 0.92, p < 0.001), O₂ level (%) (r = 0.54, p < 0.05), and environmental temperature (°C) (r = 0.57, p < 0.05). The WMS data mapped to 2800 distinct bacterial, archaeal and viral genomes through PathoScope (PS) and MG-RAST (MR) analyses. We detected 768, 1421, 1819 and 1774 bacterial strains in Group-I, Group-II, Group-III and Group-IV, respectively through PS analysis which were represented by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Spirochaetes and Fibrobacteres phyla (> 93.0% of the total abundances). Simultaneously, 343 archaeal strains were detected, of which 95.90% strains shared across four metagenomes. We identified 43 dominant species including 31 bacterial and 12 archaeal species in AD microbiomes, of which only archaea showed positive correlation with digester pH, CH₄ concentration, pressure and temperature (Spearman correlation; r > 0.6, p < 0.01). The indicator species analysis showed that the species Methanosarcina vacuolate, Dehalococcoides mccartyi, Methanosarcina sp. Kolksee and Methanosarcina barkeri were highly specific for energy production. The correlation network analysis showed that different strains of Euryarcheota and Firmicutes phyla exhibited significant correlation (p = 0.021, Kruskal-Wallis test; with a cutoff of 1.0) with the highest level (74.1%) of energy production (Group-IV). In addition, top CH₄ producing microbiomes showed increased genomic functional activities related to one carbon and biotin metabolism, oxidative stress, proteolytic pathways, membrane-type-1-matrix-metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) pericellular network, acetyl-CoA production, motility and chemotaxis. Importantly, the physicochemical properties of the AD including pH, CH₄ concentration (%), pressure, temperature and environmental temperature were found to be positively correlated with these genomic functional potentials and distribution of ARGs and metal resistance pathways (Spearman correlation; r > 0.5, p < 0.01). This study reveals distinct changes in composition and diversity of the AD microbiomes including different indicator species, and their genomic features that are highly specific for energy production.

The impact of cow dung augmentation on soil restoration and bio-accumulation of metals (Lead and Cadmium) in Pheretima posthuma (Annelida: Clitellata)

To investigate the role of cow dung in soil reclamation and bio assimilation along with bio accumulation of heavy metals in earthworm (P. posthuma) (N=900) earthworms were used and treatment groups of CD-soil mixture of different proportion of cow dung were designed. Nonlethal doses of lead acetate and cadmium chloride were added in treatment groups. Mature P. posthuma were released in each experimental pot maintaining the favorable conditions. The pH, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, exchangeable cations, and heavy metal level of each mixture was evaluated. The results indicated that bio-assimilation of Pb and Cd by P. posthuma were significantly (P ˂ 0.01) higher in different soil-CD treatments compared to control. Highest bio-assimilation of both metals was observed in T1 of both groups (Pb = 563.8 mg/kg and Cd = 42.95 mg/kg). The contents of both metals were significantly (P ˂ 0.05) lowered in casting. The nutrient concentration in the final castings of all soil-CD treatments were also equally transformed from less or insoluble to more soluble and available for plants, except for carbon level which increased with CD proportion. It is concluded that cow dung as organic matter has a positive effect on soil reclamation and bio-assimilation of metals by P. posthuma.

Arsenic toxicity in livestock growing in arsenic endemic and control sites of West Bengal: risk for human and environment

The present study aims to estimate geochemical arsenic toxicity in the domestic livestock and possible risk for human and environment caused by them. Daily dietary arsenic intake of an exposed adult cow or bull is nearly 4.56 times higher than control populace and about 3.65 times higher than exposed goats. Arsenic toxicity is well exhibited in all the biomarkers through different statistical interpretations. Arsenic bioconcentration is faster through water compared to paddy straw and mostly manifested in faeces and tail hair in cattle. Cow dung and tail hair are the most pronounced pathways of arsenic biotransformation into environment. A considerable amount of arsenic has been observed in animal proteins such as cow milk, boiled egg yolk, albumen, liver and meat from the exposed livestock. Cow milk arsenic is mostly accumulated in casein (83%) due to the presence of phosphoserine units. SAMOE-risk thermometer, calculated for the most regularly consumed foodstuffs in the area, shows the human health risk in a distinct order: drinking water > rice grain > cow milk > chicken > egg > mutton ranging from class 5 to 1. USEPA health risk assessment model reveals more risk in adults than in children, subsisting severe cancer risk from the foodstuffs where the edible animal proteins cannot be ignored. Therefore, the domestic livestock should be urgently treated with surface water, while provision of both arsenic-free drinking water and nutritional supplements is mandatory for the affected human population to overcome the severe arsenic crisis situation.

Unveiling the Efficiency of Psychrophillic Aporrectodea caliginosa in Deciphering the Nutrients from Dalweed and Cow Manure with Bio-Optimization of Coprolites

There is an immense demand for vermicomposting employing psychrophilic vermiculture (Aporrectodea caliginosa) for management of wastes under the Himalayan ecosystem. Dalweed (weeds from the world-famous urban Dal Lake) and cow manure (CM) are cheaply and abundantly available bio resources in Kashmir valley. Dalweed (DW), disposed of in the heart of the city, ascribes unpleasant effects on tourism and the natural ecosystem. Initial substrate mixtures of DW and CM with different ratios (CM100, DW100, CM80:DW20, CM60:DW40, CM40:DW60 and CM20:DW80) and castings harvested were analyzed for the following parameters: pH, TOC, TN, NO3- P, K, Fe, Zn, C:N, C:P, and C:S ratio. The results of a 56day study revealed in consistency and disparity towards the bio-optimization of coprolites depending upon the type of waste residue and mixture ratio used. Treatments with medium to low dalweed residues (CM60:DW40 followed by CM80:DW20) were found to be optimum and significantly primed chemical properties of castings using A. caligenosa. C:N, C:P, and C:S ratios showed a non-linear response with maximum decrease in C:N ratio by 35%, C:P ratio by 38% in CM100, and C:S ratio by 67% in DW100. Humification ratio, humification index, and percent humic acids were changed across all the treatments with the highest respective values of 21.33 ± 1.05, 11.33 ± 0.76, and 47.83 ± 0.76 for CM60:DW40. Results also showed that the earthworm population and biomass significantly increased with the highest respective increments of 57.53% and 74.88% in CM60:DW40 over initial values. Moreover, the highest number of cocoons (95.67 ± 1.17) were recorded within CM60:DW40 and the lowest in the control (43.33 ± 1.53). Dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate activities were inconsistent with the highest in CM40:DW60 (64.64%) and CM20:DW80 (63.54%) respectively over the initial substrates, while highest urease activity (74.40%) was observed from CM100. The results highlight the role of A. caliginosa in sustainable transformation of CM and DW with insightful, beneficial, and priming impacts on castings for its agronomic value.

Spectroscopic and chromatographic identification of bioprospecting bioactive compounds from cow feces: Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities evaluation of gut bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa KD155

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Isolation and screening of P. aeruginosa from cow dung having antagonistic potential.

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Molecular characterization of the isolate and thermodynamic stability study.

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Antimicrobial activity of extracellular crude extract of P. aeruginosa against microorganisms of medical importance.

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Antioxidant activity of extracellular crude extracts using DPPH scavenging activity.

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Isolation and characterisation of bioactive compound using HP-TLC, FTIR and GC-MS.

The prime objective of our study was to evaluate antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa KD155 isolated from cow dung. For identification of the isolate KD155, molecular techniques were employed and obtained 16S rRNA gene sequence was deposited in the NCBI GenBank under the accession number MK801234. Extracellular crude extract of P. aeruginosa KD155 displayed significant antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 441) and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 7443) in comparison to tetracycline and ketoconazole. The resistance of extracellular crude chloroform extract to DPPH scavenging activity was also observed with 77.49% inhibition rate reflecting strong antioxidant activity. In addition, HP-TLC, FT-IR and GC-MS analysis of extracellular chloroform crude extract was done which revealed phenolic compound (quercetin) as major bioactive metabolite being produced by our isolate KD155. Further, the stability of 16S rRNA sequence of the strain was studied using bioinformatics tools viz. mfold and NEB cutter indicating the thermodynamic stability of its gene sequence.

Assessment of Cow Dung Pellets as a Renewable Solid Fuel in Direct Combustion Technologies

Recently, biomass application as a renewable energy source is increasing worldwide. However, its availability differs in dependence on the location and climate, therefore, agricultural residues as cow dung (CD) are being considered to supply heat and/or power installation. This paper aims at a wide evaluation of CD fuel properties and its prospect to apply in the form of pellets to direct combustion installations. Therefore, the proximate, ultimate composition and calorific value were analyzed, then pelletization and combustion tests were performed, and the ash characteristics were tested. It was found that CD is a promising source of bioenergy in terms of LHV (16.34 MJ·kg−1), carbon (44.24%), and fixed carbon (18.33%) content. During pelletization, CD showed high compaction properties and at a moisture content of 18%,and the received pellets’ bulk density reached ca. 470 kg·m−3 with kinetic durability of 98.7%. While combustion, in a fixed grate 25 kW boiler, high emissions of CO, SO2, NO, and HCl were observed. The future energy sector might be based on biomass and this work shows a novel approach of CD pellets as a potential source of renewable energy available wherever cattle production is located.

Centrality of cattle solid wastes in vermicomposting technology - A cleaner resource recovery and biowaste recycling option for agricultural and environmental sustainability

The current review reports the importance and significance of cattle solid waste in vermicomposting technology concerning biowaste pollution in the environment. Needy increasing population evokes livestock production resulting in the massive generation of livestock wastes, especially cattle dung. Improper disposal and handling of biowastes originating from agriculture, industries, forests, rural and urban areas lead to nutrient loss, environmental pollution and health risks. Among the organic waste disposal methods available, vermicomposting is regarded as an environmentally friendly technology for bioconversion of agricultural, industrial, rural and urban generated organic solid wastes which are serving as reservoirs of environmental pollution. In vermicomposting of organic wastes, cattle dung plays a central role in mineralization, nutrient recovery, earthworm and microbial activity leading to vermifertilizer production. Even though the vermicomposting studies use cattle dung invariably as an amendment material, its importance has not been reviewed to highlight its central role. Hence, the present review mainly emphasizes the key role played by cattle dung in vermicomposting. Vermiconversion of cattle dung alone and in combination with other biowaste materials of environmental concern, mechanisms involved and benefits of vermicompost in sustainable agriculture are the major objectives addressed in the present review. The analysis reveals that cattle dung is indispensable amendment material for vermicomposting technology to ensure agricultural and environmental sustainability by reducing pollution risks associated with biowastes on one hand, and nutrient-rich benign vermifertilizer production on the other hand.

Characterization and Morphology of Natural Dung Polymer for Potential Industrial Application as Bio-Based Fillers

The modern-day paper industry is highly capital-intensive industries in the core sector. Though there are several uses of paper for currency, packaging, education, information, communication, trade and hygiene, the flip side of this industry is the impact on the forest resources and other ecosystems which leads to increasing pollution in water and air, influencing several local communities. In the present paper, the authors have tried to explore potential and alternate source of industrial pulp through ruminant animal dung, which is widely available as a rural resource in India. Three types of undigested animal dung fibers from Indigenous cow (IDF), Jersey cow (JDF), and Buffalo (BDF) were taken. Wheat straw (WS) was the main diet of all animals. The cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content for all animal dung samples were found in a range of (29–31.50%), (21–23.50%), and (11–13%), respectively. The abundant holocellulose and low lignin contents are suitable for handmade pulp and paper. Surface characteristics of fodder (WS) and all dung fibers have been investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and SEM-Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). To increase paper production without damaging forest cover, it is essential to explore unconventional natural resources, such as dung fiber, which have the huge potential to produce pulp and paper, reinforcement components, etc.

The Effects of Fertilizer Type and Application Time on Soil Properties, Plant Traits, Yield and Quality of Tomato

Compost is considered to be superior fertilizer for soil quality and productivity, and is commonly used with chemical fertilizer. The optimal mixed ratio of compost with chemical fertilizer and the best application time is necessary to know for sustainable agriculture practices and management. Compared to the control treatment, this study comprehensively evaluated the effects of four mixed ratios of compost with chemical fertilizer, two nitrogen application times of chemical fertilizer, and their interaction on the soil properties, plant traits, yield, and quality of tomato plants. The soil properties, plant traits, and yield of tomato with all compost-mixed fertilizers performed better than the treatment without fertilizer. Furthermore, the amounts of available nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter, plant weight, and yield in a 30% chemical fertilizer + 70% compost treatments (CF30) were even better than those with pure chemical fertilizer (CF100). No significant effect of nitrogen application time and its interaction with the mixed ratio treatment was detected, and the quality of fruit remained consistent among treatments. This study demonstrated a suitable practical application method for cow manure compost as a nutrient source in tomato crop production under silty loam soil.

Nutrient recovery and vermicompost production from livestock solid wastes with epigeic earthworms

The aim of this work was to study nutrient recovery and vermicompost production from livestock solid wastes of indigenous and exotic cow breeds with epigeic earthworms. Fourteen days pre-decomposed dung of Vechur native (CD1) and exotic Jersey (CD2) breeds were vermicomposted with Perionyx excavatus and Eudrilus eugeniae for 45 days (Cycle I) and 90 days (Cycle II) including respective controls without earthworms. Vermicomposts from CD1 and CD2 substrates during Cycle I and II showed increase in NPK, Ca and micro-nutrients (P < 0.05); whereas, pH, total organic carbon, C/N and C/P ratios disclosed decrease (P < 0.05) over initial levels for both the earthworms. E. eugeniae was found efficient in vermicomposting cattle solid wastes in 45 days and CD1 yielded nutrient rich vermicompost. The study concludes that Cycle I is suitable for nutrient recovery and vermicompost production, in addition to mass multiplication of earthworms in Cycle II.

Cattle Manure Trade Network Analysis and the Relevant Spatial Pathways in an Endemic Area of Foot and Mouth Disease in Northern Thailand

Animal movement is one of the most important risk factors for outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in cattle. Likewise, FMD can spread to cattle farms via vehicles contaminated with the FMD virus. In Northern Thailand, the movement of manure transport vehicles and the circulation of manure bags among cattle farms are considered as potential risk factors for FMD outbreaks among cattle farms. This study aimed to determine the characteristics and movement patterns of manure tradesman using social network analysis. A structured questionnaire was used to identify sequences of farms routinely visited by each tradesman. A total of 611 participants were interviewed, including 154 beef farmers, 407 dairy farmers, 36 tradesmen, and 14 final purchasers. A static weighted directed one-mode network was constructed, and the network metrics were measured. For the manure tradesman–cattle farmer network, the tradesman possessed the highest value of in- and out-degree centralities (71 and 4), betweenness centralities (114.5), and k-core values (2). These results indicated that the tradesman had a high frequency of farm visits and had a remarkable influence on other persons (nodes) in the network. The movement of vehicles ranged from within local districts, among districts, or even across provinces. Unclean manure plastic bags were circulated among cattle farms. Therefore, both vehicles and the bags may act as a disease fomite. Interestingly, no recording system was implemented for the movement of manure transport vehicles. This study suggested that the relevant authority and stakeholders should be aware of the risk of FMD spreading within this manure trading network. The findings from this study can be used as supporting data that can be used for enhancing FMD control measures, especially for FMD endemic areas.

Azolla pinnata, Aspergillus terreus, and Eisenia fetida for fasterrecycling of nutrients from wheat straw

A vast amount of surplus wheat straw/stubble (a carbon-rich bioresource) is wasted every year by burning. Harmful gases and residue matter released due to burning cause harmful effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, there is a strong need to recycle this bioresource in a sustainable manner. In the present study, wheat straw (W) was spiked with cattle dung (C), Azolla pinnata (A), and Aspergillus terreus (F) to make eight different treatments (1 kg each), viz. W (1 kg), WC (666 g + 334 g), WA (980 g + 20 g), WF (980 g + 20 ml), WCF (666 g + 314 g + 20 ml), WCA (666 g + 314 g + 20 g), WFA (960 g+ 20 ml + 20 g), and WCFA(666 g + 294 g + 20 ml + 20 g), and subjected to vermicomposting (Vcom) and aerobic composting (Acom). A comparison was made for the time required for degradation and nutrient profile of the products. The fastest recycling of wheat straw/stubble (120 days) was observed in WCA and WCFA, but the nutrient quality of WCA was better (N 18.67, P 3.88, K 38.84 g/kg). In the Acom group, longer time was required for degradation of various mixtures, but in this group also, WCA was degraded first of all (138 days) and yielded a product with the best nutrient quality (N 14.77, P 2.56, K 28.80 g/kg). Maximum growth of E. fetida and maximum number of hatchlings were observed in WCA while the highest cocoon production was observed in WCFA. It was observed that azolla enhanced conversion of wheat straw into a nutrient-rich product for agronomic use. Thus its use will reduce the amount of cattle dung in the mixture and the bulk to be handled by the farmers for ecosafe disposal of surplus straw/stubble. Therefore, this technology can be adopted as an alternative to burning.

Conversion of organic biomedical waste into potential fertilizer using isolated organisms from cow dung for a cleaner environment

Management of organic biomedical waste is a global quandary, and it is becoming difficult to confront day by day. Conversion of organic biomedical waste into fertilizer is of great concern. In the present research, organic biomedical waste samples (blood swabs, dressing swabs, and used cotton) were collected then after cow dung was collected in sterile container and immediately transported to the laboratory and screened for any gastrointestinal infection by using routine microscopy for intestinal parasitic infection, routine bacterial culture, and fecal occult blood for any intestinal bleeding. Then after, the pure culture of organisms and fungus were prepared, and further samples were subjected to degradation for 288 h by using various organisms and fungus. Then after, the specific quantity of biomedical waste was subjected for incineration. The physicochemical parameters of biomedical waste samples were analyzed. Then treated samples were mixed with soil to confirm a role as potential fertilizer. Then after, tomato plantation was done and phytochemical parameters of tomato plant were analyzed. This study states that organic biomedical waste produces a sanitary and stable fertilizer.

Azolla pinnata, Aspergillus terreus and Eisenia fetida for enhancing agronomic value of paddy straw

In the present study rice straw (R, control) was mixed with Cowdung (C), Azolla (A) and cellulolytic fungus Aspergillus terreus (F) in different combinations viz. RC, RA, RF, RCF, RCA, RFA and RCFA and subjected to aerobic composting (Acom) and vermicomposting (Vcom - with Eisenia fetida). It was found that addition of azolla and cattledung to two parts straw(RCA-666: 314:20 g) caused fastest degradation (105 days), gave maximum population buildup of E. fetida (cocoons, hatchlings and worm biomass), highest decline in pH, EC, TOC and C/N ratio and maximum increase over control in N(17.72%), P(44.64%), K(43.17%), H (7.93%), S (14.85%), Ca(10.16%), Na(145.97%), Fe(68.56%), Zn(12.10%) and Cu(32.24%). Rice straw (R) took longest time for degradation i.e. 120 and 140 days and had lowest content of nutrients in Vcom as well as Acom group. RCFA was also converted into Vcom at the same time but other parameters were less than RCA except for highest content of B (19.87%), Mg(21.27%) and Mn (5.58%). Bioconversion of three parts straw (RCA-735:245:20 g) was also faster (110 days) with vermicomposting than all the mixtures of Acom group (130–140 days) but nutrient content was slightly less than RCA with 2 parts straw. The results show that azolla reduces dependence on cattledung for recycling the carbon rich rice straw and enhances its agronomic value.

Speciation of heavy metals and bacteria in cow dung after vermicomposting by the earthworm, Eisenia fetida

This work was conducted to evaluate the total concentration and speciation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Cr) in vermicompost product (EFCD) by Eisenia fetida (EF) with cow dung (FCD). Meanwhile, the bacterial community and diversity of the three were compared by high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that heavy metal concentrations were declined significantly in EFCD. Sequential extraction indicated that the exchangeable fraction of Cd and Pb decreased markedly and the residual fractions increased in EFCD. Though the exchangeable fraction of Cr increased, the total concentration reduced greatly. Furthermore, the speciation of Cd, Pb and Cr bioaccumulated in EF were different. Besides, the bacterial diversity was highest in EFCD, and twelve genera with species having heavy metal resistance/tolerance were found from the genus of different abundance of the three. Vermicomposting effectively reduced the total concentration and toxicity for heavy metals, and the bacterial composition and diversity were changed greatly during vermicomposting.

Enhanced volatile fatty acids production during anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass via micro-oxygenation

A series of batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of inoculum type, oxygen (O₂) dosage, and incubation time on volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production during anaerobic digestion (AD) of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), a high yielding energy crop. The results showed that anaerobically digested cattle manure (ADCM) as an inoculum generated significantly higher VFAs compared to that of anaerobically digested waste activated sludge (ADWAS) as an inoculum. Additionally, the incubation time of 3days and O₂ dosage of 15mL/g volatile solids_added showed the highest VFAs production when ADCM was used as an inoculum. Moreover, the VFAs production had a quadratic correlation with O₂ dosage with R² of 0.86. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of the digested fiber showed rough and crumbled surface structures as opposed to that of the undigested fiber, which was further confirmed by changes in structural composition of the digested fiber.