IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i19p5173-d269314.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of a Cattle Manure Vermicomposting System Using Material Flow Analysis: A Case Study from Uganda

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph Jjagwe

    (Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Allan John Komakech

    (Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Jeninah Karungi

    (School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Arabel Amann

    (Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13/226, A-1040 Vienna, Austria)

  • Joshua Wanyama

    (Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda)

  • Jakob Lederer

    (Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13/226, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
    Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/166, A-1060 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Growth in cattle population is associated with increased manure generation whose current management in low-income countries is associated with health and environmental problems as well as low utilization rates. This trend can be reversed by promoting better manure management technologies. This study assessed vermicomposting as one of the technologies to manage organic wastes, using the case study in Uganda. A vermicomposting system using cattle manure and earthworms ( Eudrilus euginea ) was monitored for one year with the harvesting of products (compost, earthworm biomass) after every three months. Vermicompost samples from the beginning of the experiment and after every harvest were analyzed for the following parameters: pH, ash content, volatile and total solids, nutrients N, P, K, and C. Emissions of CO 2 , CH 4 , NH 3 , and N 2 O were also measured. Material flow analysis was used to determine the flows and retention of nutrients within the system. Results showed that total solids, ash, N, P, and K content significantly increased, while contents of volatile solids and C, as well as the pH, significantly decreased over time. Of the materials that entered the vermicomposting system, 46% went to vermicompost, 2% into earthworms, and 52% was lost to the atmosphere. Substance flow analysis showed that 30% of C went to vermicompost, 69% was emitted to the atmosphere, and 2% ended up in earthworms while 75% of N was transferred to vermicompost, 7% went to earthworms, and 18% escaped into the atmosphere. The cumulative emissions were 102 g CO 2 kg −1 waste, 7.6 g CH 4 kg −1 waste, and 3.943 × 10 −5 g N 2 O kg −1 waste on a dry basis, while NH 3 was not detected throughout the measurement time. Compared to other manure management methods, vermicomposting demonstrated good potential in conserving nutrients as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Jjagwe & Allan John Komakech & Jeninah Karungi & Arabel Amann & Joshua Wanyama & Jakob Lederer, 2019. "Assessment of a Cattle Manure Vermicomposting System Using Material Flow Analysis: A Case Study from Uganda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:19:p:5173-:d:269314
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/19/5173/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/19/5173/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kiggundu, Nicholas & Ddungu, Stanley Peter & Wanyama, Joshua & Cherotich, Sam & Mpairwe, Denis & Zziwa, Emmanuel & Mutebi, Faizal & Falcucci, Alessandra, 2019. "Greenhouse gas emissions from Uganda's cattle corridor farming systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Kit Wayne Chew & Shir Reen Chia & Hong-Wei Yen & Saifuddin Nomanbhay & Yeek-Chia Ho & Pau Loke Show, 2019. "Transformation of Biomass Waste into Sustainable Organic Fertilizers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Naseer Hussain & Shahid A. Abbasi, 2018. "Efficacy of the Vermicomposts of Different Organic Wastes as “Clean” Fertilizers: State-of-the-Art," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-63, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhihong Zhang & Yali Wu & Vi Khanh Truong & Dongguang Zhang, 2021. "Earthworm ( Eisenia fetida ) Mucus Inspired Bionic Fertilizer to Stimulate Maize ( Zea mays L.) Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Tahir Sheikh & Zahoor Baba & Sadaf Iqbal & Basharat Hamid & Fehim J. Wani & M. Anwar Bhat & Sheikh Suhail, 2021. "Unveiling the Efficiency of Psychrophillic Aporrectodea caliginosa in Deciphering the Nutrients from Dalweed and Cow Manure with Bio-Optimization of Coprolites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-13, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Elane Tyara de Jesus Siqueira & Rosane Claudia Rodrigues & José Roberto Brito Freitas & André da Silva Alves & Zinaldo Firmino da Silva & Edmilson Igor Bernardo Almeida & Marcos Gervasio Pereira & D, 2020. "Sugarcane Production Based on Mineral and Organic Nitrogen Fertilizers for Ruminant Feeding," Journal of Agricultural Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 8(2), pages 678-689, June.
    2. Nasser Al-Suhaibani & Mostafa Selim & Ali Alderfasi & Salah El-Hendawy, 2021. "Integrated Application of Composted Agricultural Wastes, Chemical Fertilizers and Biofertilizers as an Avenue to Promote Growth, Yield and Quality of Maize in an Arid Agro-Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-26, July.
    3. Cinny Makkar & Jaswinder Singh & Chander Parkash & Sharanpreet Singh & Adarsh Pal Vig & Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal, 2023. "Vermicompost acts as bio-modulator for plants under stress and non-stress conditions," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 2006-2057, March.
    4. TsingHai Wang & Cheng-Di Dong & Jui-Yen Lin & Chiu-Wen Chen & Jo-Shu Chang & Hyunook Kim & Chin-Pao Huang & Chang-Mao Hung, 2021. "Recent Advances in Carbon Dioxide Conversion: A Circular Bioeconomy Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-31, June.
    5. Aseel Najeeb Ajaweed & Fikrat M. Hassan & Nadhem H. Hyder, 2022. "Evaluation of Physio-Chemical Characteristics of Bio Fertilizer Produced from Organic Solid Waste Using Composting Bins," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-12, April.
    6. Dhandapani Banupriya & Tabassum-Abbasi & Tasneem Abbasi & Shahid Abbas Abbasi, 2022. "Rapid, Clean, and Sustainable Bioprocessing of Toxic Weeds into Benign Organic Fertilizer," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-20, September.
    7. Marzena Smol, 2021. "Transition to Circular Economy in the Fertilizer Sector—Analysis of Recommended Directions and End-Users’ Perception of Waste-Based Products in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    8. Segundo Rojas-Flores & Magaly De La Cruz-Noriega & Luis Cabanillas-Chirinos & Santiago M. Benites & Renny Nazario-Naveda & Daniel Delfín-Narciso & Moisés Gallozzo-Cardenas & Félix Diaz & Emzon Murga-T, 2023. "Green Energy Generated in Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells Using Tomato Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-12, July.
    9. Marcin Dębowski & Marcin Zieliński, 2020. "Technological Effectiveness of Sugar-Industry Effluent Methane Fermentation in a Fluidized Active Filling Reactor (FAF-R)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-17, December.
    10. Raimonda Zinkevičienė & Eglė Jotautienė & Algirdas Jasinskas & Zita Kriaučiūnienė & Kristina Lekavičienė & Vilma Naujokienė & Egidijus Šarauskis, 2022. "Determination of Properties of Loose and Granulated Organic Fertilizers and Qualitative Assessment of Fertilizer Spreading," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-14, April.
    11. Hongwei Zhang & Jianhui Li & Yingying Zhang & Kui Huang, 2020. "Quality of Vermicompost and Microbial Community Diversity Affected by the Contrasting Temperature during Vermicomposting of Dewatered Sludge," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-12, March.
    12. Setyo Budi Kurniawan & Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah & Muhammad Fauzul Imron & Nor Sakinah Mohd Said & Nur 'Izzati Ismail & Hassimi Abu Hasan & Ahmad Razi Othman & Ipung Fitri Purwanti, 2020. "Challenges and Opportunities of Biocoagulant/Bioflocculant Application for Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment and Its Potential for Sludge Recovery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-33, December.
    13. Marcin Zieliński & Joanna Kazimierowicz & Marcin Dębowski, 2022. "Advantages and Limitations of Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment—Technological Basics, Development Directions, and Technological Innovations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-39, December.
    14. Diego Alejandro Salinas-Velandia & Felipe Romero-Perdomo & Stephanie Numa-Vergel & Edwin Villagrán & Pilar Donado-Godoy & Julio Ricardo Galindo-Pacheco, 2022. "Insights into Circular Horticulture: Knowledge Diffusion, Resource Circulation, One Health Approach, and Greenhouse Technologies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-16, September.
    15. Alise Ose & Una Andersone-Ozola & Gederts Ievinsh, 2021. "Substrate-Dependent Effect of Vermicompost on Yield and Physiological Indices of Container-Grown Dracocephalum moldavica Plants," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, December.
    16. Shouqiang Zhao & Zhongyang Li & Chuncheng Liu & Jiuming Sun & Jibin Song & Xiaotong Li & Yuan Liu, 2023. "Effects of Different Manures in Combination with Fulvic Acid on the Abundance of N-Cycling Functional Genes in Greenhouse Soils," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-16, November.
    17. Verma, Shivpal & Dregulo, Andrei Mikhailovich & Kumar, Vinay & Bhargava, Preeti Chaturvedi & Khan, Nawaz & Singh, Anuradha & Sun, Xinwei & Sindhu, Raveendran & Binod, Parameswaran & Zhang, Zengqiang &, 2023. "Reaction engineering during biomass gasification and conversion to energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    18. Muhammad Shaukat & Ashfaq Ahmad & Tasneem Khaliq & Aaron Kinyu Hoshide & Daniel C. de Abreu, 2023. "Organic Amendments and Reduced Tillage Accelerate Harvestable C Biomass and Soil C Sequestration in Rice–Wheat Rotation in a Semi-Arid Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, April.
    19. Masoume Amirkhani & Hilary S. Mayton & Anil N. Netravali & Alan G. Taylor, 2019. "A Seed Coating Delivery System for Bio-Based Biostimulants to Enhance Plant Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-16, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:19:p:5173-:d:269314. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.