Generating Electricity from Soil Using Different Sources of Manure

In this study three different types of manure (bird, cattle and sheep) with three doses (10, 20 and 30 g) were mixed with soil to investigate and compare the different performance of energy generation as well as provides the ways of increasing the efficiency for such an application. The mixed soil was incubated for ten days after wetting with tap water as needed, then the voltage and current readings were taken every twenty-four hours for ten days. Experiment results indicated that 30 g cattle manure was the best use for energy generating purposes, delivering a voltage peak of 7.4 mV and current of 0.48 mA compared to 7.4 mV; 0.34 mA for bird manure and 6.56 mV; 0.32 mA for sheep manure. Cattle manure produced the highest peak for voltage with all doses and was therefore the best to use. In general, all treatments provide enough voltage to power the LED bulb successfully.