Co-digestion of Pretreated Chicken – Goat and Untreated Cow Manure at Different Substrate to Inoculums Ratios and Total Solids for Biogas Production

Biogas production can be greatly affected by inoculum addition and total solids. The effect of the substrate to inoculum ratios and total solids of chicken, goat and cow manure on biogas production was studied using a 0.15m3 laboratory-scale batch digester at a constant temperature of 35°C. Feedstocks were mechanically minced to 3 mm effective particle sizes prior to co-digesting with untreated cow manure from a free-range dairy rearing system. Different amounts of cow substrate inoculum were used at ratios of 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1 and 6:1, while total solid levels between (7.5% and 10.5%) at intervals of 0.5% were used to study their effects on biogas production. Increasing inoculums and total solids resulted in increased biogas production with peaks at a substrate to inoculum ratio of 4:1 (20% inoculum addition) and 9% total solids. Biogas production rates of 0.61 and 0.63m3/m3d were realized respectively. Keywords: Biogas Production, Chicken-Goat-Cow Manure, Substrate to Inoculum Ratios, Total Solids

Application of GIS and Remote Sensing in Determining Trends in Wind Energy Potential and Its Uses for Designing Development Strategies in Ghana

This paper is purported to determine the wind energy potential of Ghana for 2010 and 2018 using GIS and RS technologies and how the result could be used to develop a country strategy that benefits the ordinary Ghanaian. In doing this, two different wind potential maps of Ghana were generated for 2010 and 2018 using data from Ghana meteorological Unit and Windfinder respectively. Moreover, the Inverse Distance Weighted interpolation of winds peed was used to generate the maps at different hub heights for 2010 and 2018. The results indicate that, the 2010 wind map showed wind speed is highest (8m/s) in the southernmost part of Ghana (i.e. Coastal part of Greater Accra and Volta Regions) at 10m high while the wind map of 2018 showed that wind speed is highest (9m/s) in the Upper East Region of Ghana at 10m high. As wind energy is untapped in Ghana, we advised that Government should further explore the results for the Upper East Region in ascertaining that it was not influenced by Trade winds and apply to different sectors of the economy through appropriate institutional regulations. The wind energy in Northern Ghana should be dedicated to mechanized agriculture, augmenting electricity tariffs for the poor in those areas and extending electricity to rural communities that do not have access to the national grid under the rural electrification project. Meanwhile, the wind energy generated from the southern part of Ghana should be dedicated mostly to commercial and industrial activities. Keywords: Wind Energy Potential, mechanized agriculture, industrial application, GIS, RS

Draught Requirements of Tillage Tines in Clay Soil under Indoor Soil Bin Conditions

Large tine (Tl) and sweep tine (Tw) were the different model tillage tines used for this research. The blades were used on clay soil in a soil bin of dimension 9.0 × 0.85 × 0.5m located in the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. The clay soil used for the experiment was obtained from Agricultural Engineering Step B Farm. The objective of this study was to evaluate the draught requirements of the model tillage tools and to evaluate and model the parameters of the soil profile produced under different operating conditions. It involved testing and evaluation of tool shape, depth (12.5 -100mm) and rake angles (300, 450, and 900) and forward speed (0.17m/sec) on draught force. Soil profile patterns measured by a profilometer was analyzed using the following parameters – maximum Width of soil cut (Wfs), Ridge-to- Ridge Distance (RRD), furrow depth (df), height of ridge (Hr), maximum Width of Soil Throw (TDW) and tool width (w). Results showed that draught is directly proportional to the depth of the tine at a certain rake angle. The Tw had the least draught while Tl had the highest draught. Analysis of soil disturbance parameters revealed an increase in parameters with increasing cone index and depth of the tines. The study provides relevant data in the design of soil engaging tools and sustainable crop production. Keywords: Draught, Clay, Soil disturbance, Tillage, Tines.