Livestock Manure Valorization as Renewable Energy and Biofertilizers: Southern Region of Morocco

Livestock activities present one of the major pillars of the agricultural sector in the southern region of Morocco. However, the use of the livestock ejecta as a direct amendment for agriculture without prior treatment has negative effects on the soil and water, as they contain a high pathogenic and nitrogenous bacterial load. To avoid such negative effects, its valorization by methanization could be a good opportunity. The aim of the present chapter is to evaluate manure bioenergy and biofertilizer potential in the southern region of Morocco using anaerobic and estimate its available manure. The quantities of livestock manure from bovine, camels, goats, and sheep produced in 2020 in Guelmim-Oued Noun and Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra were 196,034 and 312,156 tons/year, respectively. Its amount in 2017 at Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab was 72,097 tons/year. The theoretical methane potential (VCH4), electrical energy (EAD), and thermal energy (HAD) estimated based on mathematical formulas from anaerobic digestion of livestock manure in the study area were 44,923,004 m3CH4/year, 155 GW/year, and 1.64 PJ/year, respectively. The estimated potential of biofertilizers (as compost) which could be recovered from digestate after anaerobic digestion is about 64,412 tons/year. The manure valorization as biofertilizers will contribute to improve soil structure and ensure forage availability. Then, the bioenergy can be used for agricultural and domestic energy purposes.