Relative Effectiveness of Biogas Production Using Poultry Wastes and Cow Dung

A comparative study of biogas production of different proportions of poultry wastes and cattle dung was conducted under the same operating conditions. The study was based on Completely Randomsied Design replicated three times. The treatments include loading three different mix ratios of 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 of poutry wastes and cow dung respectively diluted with the same amount of water. 225g of poultry waste and 75g of cow dung was mixed with 150ml of water and loaded into biodigester A. 150g of poultry wastes and 150g of cow dung was mixed with 150ml of water and loaded into biodigester B. Finally, 75g of poultry wastes and 225 of cow dung was mixed with 150ml of water and loaded into biodigester C. Each treatment was replicated three times. Biogas production was measured for a period of 7days and volume of gas produced was determined by water displacement method at room temperature of 25°C-30°C. Biogas production started on the 2 ^nd day, and reached apex on the 6^th day for digester A. Production reached its peak on the 6^th day for digester B. For digester C, biogas production started on the 3^rd day and attained maximum on 6^th day. The average gas production for digesters A, B and C were 3.84ml, 3.55ml, and 3.19ml respectively. The study shows that the largest volume of biogas production was obtained using the 3:1 mix ratio of poultry wastes to cow dung. Poutry wastes therefore is effective for production of biogas than cow dung. The analysis reveals that wastes fed into the digester and days of experiment were significant at 99% confidence level. The volumes of wastes generated by the digesters were statistically different from each other. Digester A produced the highest mean biogas of 4.50ml and this value was significantly higher than the volumes of the two other digesters (B and C). Finally, for a developing country like Nigeria, where wastes are not productively used, wastes generated from animal wastes can be effectively managed through conversion into biogas. Wastes are therefore turned to wealth which increases the income generation of the society.