Location: Cotton Ginning Research
Title: Nutrients and forage properties of cotton gin byproducts and cattle manureAuthor
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Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2022 Publication Date: 6/1/2023 Citation: Alege, F.P., Blake, C.D., Donohoe, S.P., Thomas, J.W. 2023. Nutrients and forage properties of cotton gin byproducts and cattle manure. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference, January 10-12, 2023, New Orleans, LA. P.293-298. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Cotton ginning and cattle production generate tons of byproducts every year. If not properly managed, these materials become waste which constitutes significant environmental, economic, and logistical issues. As part of a broader project on pelletizing the byproducts for soil amendment and other applications, the objective of this study was to characterize samples of cotton gin byproducts (CGB) and beef manure (BM) for applications in soil amendment and biofuel. The study analyzed and compared composted CGB from several commercial gins, as well as raw and composted BM samples from a large-scale beef farm in Mississippi. The samples were analyzed for nutrients, mineral contents, calorific values, and pathogen contents. The results of the analyses are pending. However, based on the literature, it is hypothesized that composting both materials (CGB and BM) would significantly improve their agronomic values, inactivate the pathogen contents, and enhance the potential for utilization in soil amendment. The study is also projected to establish the effect of composting on the fuel properties of both materials. Establishing the various properties of CGB and BM is crucial for determining product formulations and selecting process parameters for co-pelletizing both materials. The data obtained in this study could be used as guidance for recommending pelletization process variables for cotton gins. |
