Talkington FFA Studies the Potential of Biogas Production Using Cattle and Pig Manure
Thursday, January 23, 2025 | Author: Texas FFA News
Amarachi Uche-Eboh, a Talkington FFA member, has been named the top Animal Systems (Category 5) Agriscience Fair Project in the nation at the 97th Annual National FFA Convention and Expo.
The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes students who gain real-world, hands-on experiences in agricultural enterprises. Students use scientific principles and emerging technologies to solve complex problems related to agriculture, food and natural resources. The agriscience fair is for middle and high school students. Students compete in one of six categories in the agriscience fair and under one of the six divisions — either individually or in a team.
Uche-Eboh’s project was titled “Poop to Power: A Total Gas and Methane Analysis of Livestock Manure.” Structuring and facilitating renewable energy systems such as wind, solar, nuclear, as
well as biofuel in areas with limited knowledge and extensive costs create sustainability
complications. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to observe the potential of biogas
production using cattle and pig manure.
“When accessing these results of methane production and gas production in cow manure, pig manure, and the mixture, my hypothesis was not supported,” said Uche-Eboh. “That being a cattle and pig manure mixture would produce the most methane, and the second hypothesis being that the cattle manure and pig manure would have the most total gas.”
Although there is recent evidence of co-digestion playing a significant role in increased methane (CH4) production, it was not observed in her research. However, the findings are motivating her to continue her research.
“It is important to brainstorm a new system that produces increased sustainability, and engineer an energy system with decreased cost involved for people living in least-developed regions,” said Uche-Eboh.
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