The choice of feedstock for biogas production should not only be limited to organic waste like agricultural products, food, and animal waste. Human feces could also be considered a source of biogas production. The ever-increasing cost of fossil fuels and environmental pollution threats are forcing the search for alternative energy sources. Several types of research have to unlock the mysteries behind the difficulties of producing biogas from human feces, especially the production of more HN 3 , which is a greenhouse gas because of its low C:N ratio. This research experimentally investigated how to reduce their amount using rice straw with a high C:N ratio. Several combinations were made between the human waste and the rice straw at different ratios during the experiment. The result shows that the optimal outcome for methane production fell on the 50% HF and 50% RS combination due to the actions of both aerobic and anaerobic processes.
Ghana's soil is continuously declining in fertility due to continuous cultivation and rapid mineralization of its soil organic matter. Previous studies have touted the potential of biochar to help improve soil properties and increase the yield of crops. This study investigated the effects of the application of biochar on physicochemical properties of soil and the yield of maize and cabbage in Ghana. The study indicated that application of biochar significantly increased soil organic matter (SOM) from 3.88% (for control) to 5.72% (for biochar application rate 20 ton/ha and 0 ton/ha of NPK). It also increased soil pH from 6.55 in (for control) to 7.30 (for biochar application rate 20 ton/ha) and 0 ton/ha of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) which can help ameliorate the soil acidity problem of Ghanaian soils. This field study, demonstrated that addition of biochar from sawdust increased the yield (between the control (0 ton/ha of biochar, 0% of recommended dose of NPK) and 20 ton/ha, 0% recommended dose of NPK) of maize and cabbage by 6.66% and 7.57% respectively. This study concluded that application of biochar offers a great potential to improve soil quality and the yield of maize and cabbage in Ghana.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.