United States Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska

 

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Accessibility Remediation

If you are unable to use this item in its current form due to accessibility barriers, you may request remediation through our remediation request form.

Date of this Version

2011

Document Type

Article

Citation

International Scholarly Research Network

ISRN Renewable Energy

Volume 2012, Article ID 723829, 5 pages

doi:10.5402/2012/723829

Comments

Copyright © 2012 Roger A. Eigenberg et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License

Abstract

Selective harvesting of manure can benefit cattle producers by creating a product of value. A tool that identifies locations of manure accumulation has been developed using a subsurface sensor (Dualem-1S, Milton, ON) and software designed for salt mapping (ESAP, Riverside, CA). The combination allowed the development of models to estimate higher heating value (HHV) of feedlot manure across a feedlot pen. Soil sample data from cattle feedlots in Texas and Nebraska were analyzed for volatile solids (VSs) then combined with the Dualem-1S apparent soil conductivity (ECa) data to produce models having correlations between associated ECa values and VS (r2 = 0.869, VS). A corresponding model is under development to estimate the moisture content of the collectable solids. The combined models allow real-time spatial estimates of HHV within a feedlot pen. These methods will allow direct harvesting of VS for use as a recoverable energy source through direct combustion or cocombustion.

Share

COinS