Resource recovery from low-rank coal and livestock manure for sustainable agroecosystems: a review.
Nussipov D, Akimbekov N, Tastambek K, Digel I, Aimagambetov A
Soil Health
Compost that could end up in your garden or on the farms that grow your food might one day be made from industrial and agricultural waste that would otherwise pollute the air and soil.
Coal mining and cattle farming both produce massive amounts of waste that harm the environment. Scientists found that when you mix certain low-grade coal with manure and let microbes break it down together, the result is a rich, humus-like material that feeds soil and helps plants grow — similar to high-quality compost. This process also traps carbon in the soil and releases far less methane, a potent greenhouse gas, than leaving the waste to decompose on its own.
Key Findings
Microbial breakdown and surfactant-assisted treatments can convert low-rank coal into humic substances, which are key components of fertile, healthy soil.
Anaerobic digestion and composting of cattle manure can measurably reduce methane emissions compared to unmanaged waste disposal.
Co-composting low-rank coal and manure together was identified as a promising dual-benefit pathway, simultaneously improving soil carbon sequestration and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers reviewed how combining low-quality coal waste with cattle manure — through composting and microbial treatments — can transform two major pollution problems into a soil-enriching resource that also cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
Abstract Preview
The mining and combustion of low-rank coal (LRC), in conjunction with the inadequate management of agricultural waste, notably cattle manure, constitutes a substantial environmental challenge, enco...
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