chapter discusses multi-utilisation of cow dung as biomass,
which will add economic value to waste product and make
the management process sustainable and affordable.
A report by the Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO) indicates that in 2017 the world cattle population (of
141 countries) including dairy cattle, non-dairy cattle and
buffaloes produced 66.74 billion kg of manure (Livestock
manure storage 2020). Research has shown that 1 kg of fresh
cow dung can produce an estimated 0.03 m
3 of biogas per
day (Oluremi et al. 2018). Therefore, the world can collectively produce approximately 2 billion m
3− of biogas each
year which is equivalent to 1.14 billion litres of petroleum or
ten Giga watt-hour of energy. Moreover, 20–25 m
3 of cow
dung have a total energy value of 100–125 kWh, which can
be converted into 35–40 kWh of electricity and 55–75 kWh
of heat energy (Sorathiya et al. 2014). Therefore, theoretically, the biomass potential of cow dung is 3.5 Giga
watt-hour of electricity and 5.5 Giga watt-hour of heat
energy. Hence, significant economic and energy asset can be
generated from cow manure waste. Thus, research and
development work must be continued to invent
multi-utilisation of cow dung waste as biomass. An adequate
cow dung management system can produce enough energy
to support its own farming operation as well as reduce global
greenhouse gas pollution. Through policy and regulations,
sustainable waste management system can be adopted
(Masud 2014, 2017, 2019).
Various waste management applications of cow dung are
discussed in this chapter that could potentially ensure higher
profit to livestock owners while mitigating the environmental pollution. Additionally, the work aims to establish
the intrinsic and physio-chemical characteristics of cow
dung and evaluate its potential for multi-utilisation. Section 2 highlights the generation of cow dung around the
world. In Sect. 3, the physio-chemical properties of cow
dung are discussed. Section 4 discusses the conventional
application of cow dung, such as organic fertiliser and solid
fuel. Finally, Sect. 5 focuses on advance methods of cow
dung utilisation as organic fertiliser, biogas, biochar and
reinforcement of friction composites.
2 Cow Dung Generation Around the World
Cow dung consists of digested grain and grass. It is rich in
nutrients and organic materials, as nitrogen, Phosphorus, and
Potassium are present in cattle manure.
The production of cattle manure in different countries
depends upon various factors such as the number of cattle,
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), geography, farming system
and manure processing system.
2.1 Cow Dung Generation in Developed
Countries
Cow dung generation scenario of 35 developed countries of
the world is discussed in the following section to understand
the biomass potential of cow dung and to propose appropriate waste treatment technologies (see Fig. 1). The discussion is based on geographical and economical point of
view, to hopefully encourage policymakers to promote the
use of cow dung for energy and organic fertiliser
applications.
This graph (Fig. 1) shows the number of cattle and the
amount of manure produced in developed countries (Livestock manure storage 2020). The horizontal axis indicates
the number of dairy animals and the vertical axis shows the
amount of manure in kilogram, the size of the bubble shows
the GDP of the respective country, and different colour
shows different continents. The United States of America
produces the maximum amount of cow dung, which is about
4619.66 million kg per annum, where the number of cattle
and buffaloes is 93.70 million head (Livestock manure
storage 2020). The minimum amount of manure production
among developed countries is in Malta, which is about 1.05
million kg per annum, where the number of cattle and buffaloes are 14.18 thousand head (Livestock manure storage
2020). Average production of these 35 developed countries
is about 385.78 million kg, and different continents have
various contributions in this regard. The highest average
production is seen in the North America continent, estimating almost 2588.19 million kg per annum, other continents are far away from this production rate. In Australia
continent, average production is around 1159.62 million kg
per annum, nearly 1000 million less than the amount produced by America (Livestock manure storage 2020). Though
almost all countries in Europe are developed country, the
manure production in Europe is again 1000 million less than
Australia. Although the continent of Europe has the highest
number of developed countries, the average amount of
manure is about 194.60 million kg per annum, which is the
second-lowest among all other continents. However, only
one country of Asia, Japan is placed in this graph, and the
average amount of manure is 168.73 million kg per annum
(Livestock manure storage 2020). Generally, all the countries follow the same trait; the amount of manure increases
with the increasing number of animals; therefore, all the
countries are aligned in a straight line. Figure 1 indicates the
respective GDP of each country to analyse the purchasing
power of its citizens. Countries with higher GDP can
potentially adopt advanced and expensive technologies. The
cow dung generation varies drastically among the developed
nations due to land availability and the number of human
216
A. A. Ananno et al.
which will add economic value to waste product and make
the management process sustainable and affordable.
A report by the Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO) indicates that in 2017 the world cattle population (of
141 countries) including dairy cattle, non-dairy cattle and
buffaloes produced 66.74 billion kg of manure (Livestock
manure storage 2020). Research has shown that 1 kg of fresh
cow dung can produce an estimated 0.03 m
3 of biogas per
day (Oluremi et al. 2018). Therefore, the world can collectively produce approximately 2 billion m
3− of biogas each
year which is equivalent to 1.14 billion litres of petroleum or
ten Giga watt-hour of energy. Moreover, 20–25 m
3 of cow
dung have a total energy value of 100–125 kWh, which can
be converted into 35–40 kWh of electricity and 55–75 kWh
of heat energy (Sorathiya et al. 2014). Therefore, theoretically, the biomass potential of cow dung is 3.5 Giga
watt-hour of electricity and 5.5 Giga watt-hour of heat
energy. Hence, significant economic and energy asset can be
generated from cow manure waste. Thus, research and
development work must be continued to invent
multi-utilisation of cow dung waste as biomass. An adequate
cow dung management system can produce enough energy
to support its own farming operation as well as reduce global
greenhouse gas pollution. Through policy and regulations,
sustainable waste management system can be adopted
(Masud 2014, 2017, 2019).
Various waste management applications of cow dung are
discussed in this chapter that could potentially ensure higher
profit to livestock owners while mitigating the environmental pollution. Additionally, the work aims to establish
the intrinsic and physio-chemical characteristics of cow
dung and evaluate its potential for multi-utilisation. Section 2 highlights the generation of cow dung around the
world. In Sect. 3, the physio-chemical properties of cow
dung are discussed. Section 4 discusses the conventional
application of cow dung, such as organic fertiliser and solid
fuel. Finally, Sect. 5 focuses on advance methods of cow
dung utilisation as organic fertiliser, biogas, biochar and
reinforcement of friction composites.
2 Cow Dung Generation Around the World
Cow dung consists of digested grain and grass. It is rich in
nutrients and organic materials, as nitrogen, Phosphorus, and
Potassium are present in cattle manure.
The production of cattle manure in different countries
depends upon various factors such as the number of cattle,
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), geography, farming system
and manure processing system.
2.1 Cow Dung Generation in Developed
Countries
Cow dung generation scenario of 35 developed countries of
the world is discussed in the following section to understand
the biomass potential of cow dung and to propose appropriate waste treatment technologies (see Fig. 1). The discussion is based on geographical and economical point of
view, to hopefully encourage policymakers to promote the
use of cow dung for energy and organic fertiliser
applications.
This graph (Fig. 1) shows the number of cattle and the
amount of manure produced in developed countries (Livestock manure storage 2020). The horizontal axis indicates
the number of dairy animals and the vertical axis shows the
amount of manure in kilogram, the size of the bubble shows
the GDP of the respective country, and different colour
shows different continents. The United States of America
produces the maximum amount of cow dung, which is about
4619.66 million kg per annum, where the number of cattle
and buffaloes is 93.70 million head (Livestock manure
storage 2020). The minimum amount of manure production
among developed countries is in Malta, which is about 1.05
million kg per annum, where the number of cattle and buffaloes are 14.18 thousand head (Livestock manure storage
2020). Average production of these 35 developed countries
is about 385.78 million kg, and different continents have
various contributions in this regard. The highest average
production is seen in the North America continent, estimating almost 2588.19 million kg per annum, other continents are far away from this production rate. In Australia
continent, average production is around 1159.62 million kg
per annum, nearly 1000 million less than the amount produced by America (Livestock manure storage 2020). Though
almost all countries in Europe are developed country, the
manure production in Europe is again 1000 million less than
Australia. Although the continent of Europe has the highest
number of developed countries, the average amount of
manure is about 194.60 million kg per annum, which is the
second-lowest among all other continents. However, only
one country of Asia, Japan is placed in this graph, and the
average amount of manure is 168.73 million kg per annum
(Livestock manure storage 2020). Generally, all the countries follow the same trait; the amount of manure increases
with the increasing number of animals; therefore, all the
countries are aligned in a straight line. Figure 1 indicates the
respective GDP of each country to analyse the purchasing
power of its citizens. Countries with higher GDP can
potentially adopt advanced and expensive technologies. The
cow dung generation varies drastically among the developed
nations due to land availability and the number of human
216
A. A. Ananno et al.