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The sharp increase in waterborne diseases due to bacterial contamination is limiting the supply of safe water in developing countries. This study focuses on the development and optimization of a low‐cost ceramic membrane based on natural resources and local waste for eliminating bacteria from water. The augmented simplex centroïd mixture design (ASCD) was used. The obtained optimal formulation consisted of 65% Ebebda clay (EB) 18.64% Koutaba clay (KG), and 16.34% cassava peel (PM) with a holding temperature of 1 100°C. The raw materials and membrane were characterized by chemical analysis using X‐ray florescence, X‐ray diffractometry, Thermal Gravimetric/Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG/DSC), FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, SBET, porosity and flexural strength. The optimal membrane has 43.26% of porosity, 7.46 MPa of strength, 0.55 m2/g of specific surface area, an average pore diameter of 1.31 µm and a water permeability of 4 345,87 L h−1 m−2 bar−1. The ability of the membrane support to retain Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella sp and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria present in contaminated water was finally assessed. Retention tests showed 100% of P. aeruginosa, 97.37% of K. pneumoniae, 93.69% of Salmonella sp, and 90% of S. aureus, making this new, less expensive ceramic membrane a potential candidate for the water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential of using digestate, a byproduct of anaerobic digestion, as organic manure in sustainable agriculture. The digestate was processed using a constructed screw press, separating it into liquid and solid components, with the liquid stored at room temperature and the solid subjected to a 20-day solar drying process. Four experimental conditions were tested: a control group, soil with chemical fertilizer, soil with solid digestate, and soil with liquid digestate. A fertilization rate of 1 gram per kilogram of soil was used. Over two months, distinct growth patterns emerged, with the liquid digestate group showing the most significant advantages, concluding with 59 leaves compared to 46 leaves in the solid digestate group, 44 in the chemical fertilizer group, and 42 in the control group. However, statistical analysis indicated no significant difference between treatments (p-value: 0.9451). The liquid digestate group also demonstrated superior stem width and crop yield, achieving a total yield of 99 bean seeds. The study highlights the promise of integrating digestate as organic manure in sustainable agriculture. The use of an anaerobic digester and screw press offers a viable solution for waste-to-resource conversion. Despite the encouraging results, further research is recommended to optimize digestate composition and application methods tailored to specific crop needs. This research contributes to eco-friendly agricultural practices and supports the advancement of sustainable waste management and crop cultivation strategies.

Abstract The sharp increase in waterborne diseases due to bacterial contamination is limiting the supply of safe water in developing countries. This study focuses on the development and optimization of a low‐cost ceramic membrane based on natural resources and local waste for eliminating bacteria from water. The augmented simplex centroïd mixture design (ASCD) was used. The obtained optimal formulation consisted of 65% Ebebda clay (EB) 18.64% Koutaba clay (KG), and 16.34% cassava peel (PM) with a holding temperature of 1 100°C. The raw materials and membrane were characterized by chemical analysis using X‐ray florescence, X‐ray diffractometry, Thermal Gravimetric/Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG/DSC), FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, SBET, porosity and flexural strength. The optimal membrane has 43.26% of porosity, 7.46 MPa of strength, 0.55 m2/g of specific surface area, an average pore diameter of 1.31 µm and a water permeability of 4 345,87 L h−1 m−2 bar−1. The ability of the membrane support to retain Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella sp and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria present in contaminated water was finally assessed. Retention tests showed 100% of P. aeruginosa, 97.37% of K. pneumoniae, 93.69% of Salmonella sp, and 90% of S. aureus, making this new, less expensive ceramic membrane a potential candidate for the water treatment.

This study investigated the growth performance, nitrogen balance, and economics of production of Red Sokoto bucks (RSBs) fed Saccharomyces cerevisiaetreated, biodegradable groundnut haulms (SCGH) and dried cassava peels (DCP). Four dietary treatments were formulated including a control diet (T1; 0% SCGH:DCP) and DCP in combination with SCGH at the different proportions of 275:695 (T2), 375:595 (T3), and 475:495 (T4) g/kg of dry matter (DM). A combination of 5 g and 50 g of yeast as a probiotic and molasses, respectively, were added to 1 kg of GH after been dissolved in 1 L of water. Twelve healthy RSBs weighing 9.5 ± 0.40 kg of body weight (BW) and aged 7 to 8 months were exposed to four treatments. This was replicated three times in a completely randomized design (CRD). The experiment lasted for 90 days. The average final weight, average daily weight gain (gram/day), nitrogen intake, and nitrogen balance were significantly influenced by the inclusion of DCP and SCGH in the diets. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the ADG of T1 (58.20 g/d) and the T4 (58.89 g/d) groups. Feed conversion ratio and feed-cost saving ($630.80) increased with the inclusion of DCP and SCGH in the goats' diets. In conclusion, T4 (SCGH: 475g, DCP: 495g) had a better chemical composition, ADG, nitrogen balance, and feed-cost saving; therefore, SCGH are recommended and are readily available agricultural wastes that can be fed to RSBs to improve performance and nitrogen utilization in a cost-effective way, especially during dry season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesives are significant for manufacturing competent, light, and sturdy goods in various industries. Adhesives are an important part of the modern manufacturing landscape because of their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and ability to enhance product performance. Formaldehyde and polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (PMDI) are conventional adhesives utilized in wood applications and have been classified as carcinogenic, toxic, and unsustainable. Given the adverse environmental and health effects associated with synthetic adhesives, there is a growing research interest aimed at developing environmentally friendly bio-based wood adhesives derived from renewable resources. This study aimed to extract starch from camote and cassava peels and focuses on the oxidization of starch derived from camote and cassava peels using sodium hypochlorite to create bio-based adhesives. The mean yield of starch extracted from camote and cassava peels was 13.19 ± 0.48% and 18.92 ± 0.15%, respectively, while the mean weight of the oxidized starches was 34.80 g and 45.34 g for camote and cassava, respectively. Various starch ratios sourced from camote and cassava peels were examined in the production of bio-based adhesives. The results indicate that the 40:60 camote to cassava ratio yielded the highest solid content, while the 80:20 ratio resulted in the best viscosity. Furthermore, the 40:60 ratio produced the most favorable particle board in terms of mechanical properties, density, thickness, swelling, and water absorption. Consequently, the starch extracted from camote and cassava peels holds promise as a potential source for bio-based adhesives following appropriate chemical modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the potential use of the cassava peel-derived adsorbent for removal of free fatty acid (FFA) from waste cooking oil (WCO). The adsorbent A3 was developed by calcination at 200 °C for 2 hours, followed by NaOH modification. The surface morphology and functional groups of A3 were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adsorption parameters, such as adsorbent dose, contact time, and temperature, influenced the adsorption efficiency of A3 for FFA. Isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics of free fatty acid (FFA) adsorption onto A3 were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of A3 for FFA was 322.58 mg/g at a temperature of 35 °C. Adsorption isotherm was well described by the Freundlich model (R2=0.9676), while adsorption kinetics was best fitted with pseudo-second order model (R2=0.9996). Kinetic data revealed that the adsorption of FFA onto A3 was chemisorption. Thermodynamic studies revealed that FFA adsorption was endothermic, favorable, and spontaneous. In addition, diethyl ether and chloroform : methanol (2 : 1, v/v) could be used for chemical regeneration of A3. Our results confirmed that A3 has the potential to be a suitable adsorbent for FFA removal from WCO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of ensiled guinea grass (GG)- cassava peel (CSP) enriched with soybean cheese waste (SBCW) in varying proportions into 4 treatments: T1 (GG100%), T2 (GG80% + CSP10% + SBCW10%), T3 (GG60% + CSP30% + SBCW10%) and T4 (GG40% + CSP50% + SBCW10%) on West African Dwarf goats. Twenty WAd goats were allocated into four silages of five growing WAd goats each. Daily feed intake and weekly weight gain were measured for twelve weeks of the experiment. Digestibility study was carried out using Three animals per treatment for faeces and urine collection. Blood samples were collected via jugular vein for blood profile analysis using standard measures in a completely randomized design. The Crude protein (CP) concentrations of silage increased with the increasing level of cassava peels. Crude fiber levels of the silages also followed the same trend. The group of animals fed T4 had highest feed intake among the treatment groups. Daily weight gain of goats in T4 was better enhanced than other treatments. The apparent digestibility was significantly different (P˂0.05) among the treatment groups. There were diet effects on the parameters measured for rumen liquor of the animals fed silages. The treatments had no effects on the haematology and total protein of goats fed diets. It is therefore indicated that agro-industrial by-products ensiled with guinea grass are potential means of feed sustainability during the dry season period for goats in Nigeria without any deleterious effects on goats’ health and performance.

The study investigated the effects of kenaf bio-fibre (KBF) and cassava peel ash (CPA) on the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of concrete. The CPA was characterized by microstructural studies such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The KBF (length, L = 5 cm) and five (5) volume fractions from 0 to 1.0% (Δ% = 0.25%) were used with Portland cement (CEM 1). Next, five concrete mixtures were also cast using 10% CPA as a replacement for CEM 1. The results revealed that the inclusion of KBF in concrete and blending CPA with CEM 1 reduced the slump values with no major improvement of the compressive strength. However, blending CPA with CEM 1 and inclusion of KBF in concrete improved the VeBe time of the fresh concrete and the tensile and flexural strengths of the hardened concrete. The SEM results showed that KBF serve as bridges between the cracks and enhanced the load transfer capability of the concrete matrix. Overall, the study demonstrated that the utilization of KBF and CPA in concrete is a technically feasible and environmentally friendly approach to waste valorization and sustainable construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was carried out to study the feasibility of using synthesized acid-bearing carbonaceous catalyst (SO3H–C and PO4H2–C) derived from cassava peel for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil (WCO). The catalyst activity was tested using an autoclave type reactor and three different oil to alcohol ratios (1 : 3, 1 : 5 and 1 : 7) at four different temperatures (50–80°C) for 4 h. Two types of alcohol (i.e. methanol (CH3OH) and ethanol (C2H5OH) were used to understand the efficiency of using alcohol in the process. The study indicates that reaction using high ratio of alcohol (1 : 7) generally produced high yield of the biodiesel compared to other ratios. The yield of the biodiesel also increased with increasing temperature over all the reaction systems. The carbon modified with sulphuric acid catalyst showed the highest yield of ~ 90%, which was obtained at 80°C using a 1 : 7 ratio of WCO : alcohol. It was also observed that reaction with methanol produced better yields compared to ethanol reactions where significant differences were observed across both temperature and ratio. The catalysts were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, surface area and pore volume analyses. The catalyst is of interest because it is green, non-toxic and synthesized using cassava peel waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioethanol production is one of the key alternatives for fossil fuel use due to climate change. The study seeks to upscale tailor-made onsite enzyme blends for the bioconversion of cassava peels to bioethanol in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process using cassava peels-degrading fungi. The starch and cellulose contents of peels were determined. The results showed significant levels of cellulose (39.78%) and starch (31.21%), indicating that cassava peels are valuable raw materials for bioethanol production. To investigate cassava-degrading microbes, Aspergillus niger demonstrated the highest enzyme activity with a diameter of zone of clearance of 16 mm. Tailor-made enzyme blends were produced with the A . niger using various substrate concentrations (1%, 3%, 5%, 8%, and 10%) of milled cassava peels at periods of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days with a spore concentration of 2.1 × 10 5  cells/mL. The amylolytic and cellulolytic activities were determined as 4.759 U/mL and 4.265 U/mL, respectively, at 5% and 6-day optimal conditions. The enzyme blend was upscaled using three fermentation vessels, thus 0.250 L flask, 1.0 L flask, and 10 L fermenter at optimized conditions in the SSF process for bioethanol production. These optimal conditions were firstly applied to a 0.250 L flask in the SSF process, a fixed enzyme dose of 20 mL and 1.5 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with varying substrate concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 20% and ethanol analyzed daily for 10 days. The theoretical ethanol yields recorded were 15.64%, 16.02%, and 14.91% for 0.250, 1, and 10 volumes obtained at different fermentation days. These optimized conditions demonstrate the potential for industrial bioethanol production in Ghana., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Martison Budu et al. The Scientific World Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

There is a considerable gap in knowledge about cassava waste management among small-scale processors in Nigeria. This study investigated the utilisation of cassava wastes among processors in Akoko southwest, Ondo State, Nigeria. Two hundred processors were sampled in four communities, using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were analysed using frequency counts, and percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (at α0.05). The majority of the processors were males (53.5 %), married (49.0 %), Christians (49.0 %), and with secondary education (22.0 %). Most respondents had knowledge that cassava waste could be sold to generate income (81.0 %), used to produce chemicals (78.5 %) and utilised as a source of energy (78.5 %). The major constraints to cassava waste utilisation included high cost of cassava waste processing (82.0 %) and the lack of processing equipment (82.0 %). The correlation analysis shows a significant correlation between the ages of respondents and cassava waste utilisation (r = −0.538 p < 0.05), years of education, and cassava waste utilisation (r = −0.073, p < 0.05). However, marital status (r = −0.087, p < 0.05) and income (r = −0.048, p < 0.05) had hypothesised a positive relationship with cassava waste utilisation, but not significant. The study concluded that the majority of the respondents had a positive attitude towards cassava waste utilisation, but were constrained by inadequate finance, lack of processing equipment, high cost of hired labour, and high cost of processing. The biogas properties of cassava waste have transformational potential in addressing energy poverty in developing economies like Nigeria.

Globally, the production of biofuels as an alternative energy source from renewable raw materials to complement energy needs has become of utmost importance. The goal of this study was to compare bioethanol production from pineapple and white cassava peels utilizing inoculants such as Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The cassava and pineapple peels were obtained from the white cassava and abacaxi pineapple, respectively. The fungal isolates: Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus oryzae, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated from burnt wood, steamed rice, and fresh palm wine (from oil palm) at 37°C. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) at pH 5.6 was used to grow the fungal isolates, and morphological observations were used to confirm the isolates. The substrates were fermented with different inoculant combinations, distilled on days 4 and 8, and the physicochemical parameters were determined. The results showed that Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in combination gave the highest bioethanol yield of 48.67±5.7 ml with the pineapple peels at day 8; whereas Aspergillus oryzae and Neurospora crassa in combination gave the highest bioethanol yield of 38.33±2.03 ml with the cassava peels at day 4. This observation was statistically significant (p<0.05). The findings led to the conclusion that pineapple peels have a higher bioethanol yield than cassava peels. The inoculants utilized in this research work indicate the best prospects for bioethanol production from abacaxi pineapple and white cassava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Engineering / Jurnal Keteknikan Pertanian is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The detoxifying abilities of the humic acids and its antioxidant capacity have led to an increased interest in its use as feed additive in livestock production. This research assessed the physiological and antioxidant response of West African dwarf (WAD) goats to cassava peels based diets containing different levels of sodium humate. The experimental design was a completely randomized design, with four treatment diets containing sodium humate at 0, 5, 10 and 15 g/kg diet (Control, 5HNa, 10HNa and 15HNa). Twenty (20) WAD bucks were divided into four (4) groups of five (5) animals and assigned to the four experimental diets. Data was collected on haematological parameters, serum indices and oxidative stress biomarkers and statistically analyzed using the GLM of SPSS (version 23). Result revealed that sodium humate in cassava peels based diets of WAD goats did not affect (p > 0.05) the haematological parameters measured. Total protein increased (p < 0.05) in cassava peels based diet containing 5 g/kg diet (6.43 mg/dL) of sodium humate compared to the other groups (5.50, 5.75 and 5.99 mg/dL for control, 10HNa and 15HNa groups respectively). Also, sodium humate in cassava peels based diets reduce (p < 0.05) glucose level in the blood compared to the control. Serum aluminum increased (p < 0.05) in 10HNa group (0.33 µgL-1) compared to the 5HNa group (0.30 µgL-1) but not in the control and 15HNa groups (0.31 µgL-1, respectively). Albumin concentration increased (p < 0.05) in all sodium humate groups (5.23, 5.50 and 5.48 mg/dL for %HNa, 10HNa, and 15HNa, respectively) compared to the control (3.50 mg/dL). Uric acid increased (p < 0.05) with the increasing amount of sodium humate in the cassava peels based diets. In conclusion, to address the concerns of possible cyanide poisoning and mycotoxins in the mixed diets containing cassava peels, up to 15 g/kg diet of sodium humate could be used as additive to improve the physiological and antioxidant capacity of the animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is an interesting adsorbent material due to its use is correlated with biomass waste utilization and also minimize environmental pollution from high amount of biomass by-product. Regarding to improve the biochar ability in water treatment, several surface modifications have been developed, one of them is modification using surfactant. In this study, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) was used to modify the surface of biochar prepared from pyrolysis of cassava peels (Manihot utilissima). Its performance in biochar modification to remove methylene blue (MB) dyes was compared with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) surfactant for observing the important of – interactions mechanisms. The analysis of biochar and biochar-SDBS were conducted by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), CHNS elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Furthermore, the adsorption experiments were conducted using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. It is known that modification using SDBS could increase the adsorption capacity of biochar not only from electrostatic interaction but also through – interactions mechanisms. In this respect, as the amount of SDBS mass increased, the adsorption capacity was also improved due to the modification produced more active cites on biochar. The maximum MB adsorption onto biochar-SDBS occurred at adsorbent mass of 15 mg with optimum pH value of 10. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Abstract The possibility of using agro-industrial residues in bioconversion processes advances with the development of biotechnology and the search for processes in which is possible to add commercial value to previously discarded products. These processes should be low cost, easy to control and chemical-free. The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica (YL) is widely used to produce lipids, enzymes, citric acid, and proteins, among others. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of this yeast to use agro-industrial residues as a source of carbon without adding extra carbohydrate sources for the development of cells. The study evaluated the production of proteins and lipids from different carbon sources as well as the optimization of the process (agitation, temperature, and nitrogen source). Indeed, YL produced 22.3% of protein and 9.4% of lipids in dry biomass, a 179% of protein and 660% of lipid increase from raw material, respectively, when using cassava residues as a carbon source. However, lipase production was low, indicating that the strain had priority for cell growth.

Utilization of agricultural wastes for production of useful metabolites requires hydrolysis using both cellulase and amylase enzymes. We isolated Aspergillus fumigatus IB-A1 and evaluated its ability to simultaneously produce both cellulase and amylase. Although the isolate could produce both cellulase and amylase from either soluble starch or carboxymethyl cellulose, amylase activity was higher with soluble starch while cellulase activity was higher when carboxymethyl cellulose was used as the sole carbon source. With a mixture of carboxymethyl cellulose and soluble starch, both the amylase and cellulase activities increased with increase in the ratio of soluble starch. The optima ratio of carboxymethyl cellulose to soluble starch for cellulase and amylase activities were 0.7:0.3, and 0.4 to 0.6 respectively. For practical application, the optimum ratio of carboxymethyl cellulose to soluble starch in the production medium depends on the relative composition of cellulose and starch in the substrate to be hydrolyzed. The isolate was also able to efficiently produce both amylase and cellulase from cassava peel. With 10 g/L cassava peel, the cellulase and amylase activities were 6.122± 0.320 U/ml/min and 4.342± 0.210 U/ml/min respectively. When the cells were immobilized on loofa sponge and subjected to alternating air phase- liquid phase culture, cellulase and amylase production from cassava peel increased to 8.106± 0.620 U/ml/min and 5.206± 1.24 U/ml/min respectively. The optimum ratio of the air phase to the liquid phase was 3 hours of air phase to 21 hours of liquid phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors are conventional devices in electrical circuits that produce electrical pulses at high power levels in short periods. Electrodes for supercapacitors were prepared with activated carbon. Activated carbon was obtained from cassava peels treated by chemical activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4), each at two different concentrations and at one carbonization temperature. The electrochemical performance of the prepared electrodes was obtained by means of cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge in a 3-electrode system with an electrolytic solution of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) 1 M. Cyclic voltammetry allowed identifying the behavior of supercapacitors in a potential window of -0.4V to 0.6V. Activated carbon derived from cassava peel with the highest specific surface area (398.46 m2/g) has exhibited the maximum specific capacitance of 64.18 F/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annually, millions of tons of cassava peels are generated as agro-waste. This research repurposed entire cassava peels into biodegradable films as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. Enzymes (cellulase, xylanase, and glucanase) were employed to catalyze the process, and cassava peels were effectively converted into films, which exhibited comparable or even better mechanical properties and water resistance to commercial packaging materials. The films also presented high water solubility of 44–50% and good light barrier properties, with 15–23% transmittance values for visible light and less than 3% for UV light. Extended enzymatic treatment time resulted in films characterized by increased elasticity, solubility, water resistance, transparency, and smoother surfaces, which can be attributed to the enzymatic breakdown of cassava peel fibers into smaller saccharide units. The optimal enzymatic treatment time was found to be 4 h which produced films with favorable mechanical characteristics, barrier properties, and solubility. A sustainable and ecologically-friendly approach is provided to fully harness cassava peels in fabricating packaging films, particularly suited for food items necessitating dissolution in water. [Display omitted] • Entire cassava peels were bio-transferred into bioplastic. • Cellulase, xylanase, and glucanase were used to degrade fibers. • Film-forming solution contained starch and low MW carbohydrates. • Bioplastic films had good mechanical, resistance, and morphological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was designed to investigate silage additives’ effect on preference and nutritive value of five weeks re-growth guinea grass by West African dwarf (WAD) goats. The silages of five weeks re-growth guinea grass were made without additive (T1), with cassava peels additive (T2), and with fermented epiphytic juice of lactic acid bacteria in Panicum maximum (FEJPM) additive (T3). The effects of silage additives on preference, voluntary feed intake, growth, digestibility, and nitrogen utilization were assessed using 18 growing WAD goats (BW: 5.88±0.26 kg) in a completely randomized design. Dry matter was significantly (p0.05) in T1 and T3 silages (10.63 and 10.72 g/100g DM) that were significantly lower (p

A study was designed to investigate silage additives' effect on preference and nutritive value of five weeks re-growth guinea grass by West African dwarf (WAD) goats. The silages of five weeks regrowth guinea grass were made without additive (T1), with cassava peels additive (T2), and with fermented epiphytic juice of lactic acid bacteria in Panicum maximum (FEJPM) additive (T3). The effects of silage additives on preference, voluntary feed intake, growth, digestibility, and nitrogen utilization were assessed using 18 growing WAD goats (BW: 5.88±0.26 kg) in a completely randomized design. Dry matter was significantly (p<0.05) higher in T2 silage (40.70 g/100g) than in T1 silage (39.00) and T3 silage (34.60). Crude protein values were similar (p>0.05) in T1 and T3 silages (10.63 and 10.72 g/100g DM) that were significantly lower (p<0.05) than that in T2 silage (12.54 g/100g DM). The silages of guinea grass had acceptable physical attributes in terms of color, odor, and texture, with pH values ranging from 3.87- 4.97. T1 and T3 silages were rejected, whereas T2 silage was accepted well by the experimental WAD goats. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) was significantly (p<0.05) the highest in the WAD goats fed T2 silage (303.30 g/day), and the lowest (p<0.05) was found in WAD goats fed T1 silage (271.60 g/day). Similar to the ADFI, the highest average daily gain (ADG) was found in WAD goats fed T2 silage (37.25 g/day), and the lowest ADG (p<0.05) was found in WAD goats fed T1 silage (24.50 g/day). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of WAD goats fed T2 silage (8.15) was superior to those of WAD goats fed T1 silage (13.63) and T3 silage (9.66). Crude protein and dry matter digestibility values were higher (p<0.05) in WAD goat fed T2 silage (68.24 and 63.87%, respectively) than in WAD goats fed T1 and T3 silages. Nitrogen intake and balance were significantly (p<0.05) the highest in WAD goats fed T2 silage (12.41 and 8.68 g/day, respectively), and these variables were similar in WAD goats fed T1 and T3 silages. Nitrogen retention was not affected by the silage additives. It was concluded that cassava peels were better than FEJPM as a silage additive since it improved fermentative quality, acceptability, feed intake, and digestibility of guinea grass silage by WAD goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of cassava agro-food industries leads serious environmental problems due to the pollutants organic wastes discharge into the environment and heavy pressure put on forest resources to meet their internal energy needs. Biogas generated by anaerobic digestion is a versatile renewable energy vector regarding to the methane content which can be used to replace firewood and provide cassava factories with cost-effective energy. Cassava wastes show high biodegradables carbohydrates content against low nitrogen content. Due to the sugars content, cassava waste failed rapidly in inhibition during anaerobic digestion process. This paper focused on optimization of cassava wastes anaerobic digestion by using some chemical and adjusting the inoculum to substrate (I/S) ratio. The I/S = 1 is optimal to reach the maximal methane yield from cassava wastes. The biochemical methanogenic potential (BMP) showed 368 ± 26 mL/gVS; 156 ± 63 mL/gVS; 309 ± 75 mL/gVS respectively for untreated cassava wastewater (CWW), cassava peels treated with sodium bicarbonate (CP-Na) and cassava peels treated with potash locally (CP-P) called «akanwu». Untreated cassava peels (U-CP) yielded biogas with no methane content. The average methane content of the vial was at 71% (v/V) after 15 days of solid retention time (SRT) of CWW, 47% (v/V) and 58% (v/V) respectively for CP-Na and CP-P after 7 days of residence time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activation of carbon from Manihot Esculenta (cassava) peels as a sustainable biomass precursor was explored for application in supercapacitors (SCs); demonstrating a cheap and sustainable environmental friendly source of carbon materials for potential application as electrode materials for SC. The activation was carried out with three different activating agents namely potassium hydroxide (KOH), potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) and potassium chloride in sodium thiosulphate (KCl–Na2S2O3). The obtained activated carbon (AC) material exhibited SSA up to 828 ​m2 ​g−1 for the KOH activation and the electrodes fabricated revealed a specific capacitance (CSP) (300 ​F ​g−1 at 0.5 ​A ​g−1), excellent rate capability and cycling stability (98% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles) in 6 ​M KOH aqueous solution. The study demonstrated an efficient and sustainable approach for high performance SCs by using biomass as a viable source of the carbon material for SC applications.

Background. The use of strain-specific microbial fermentation in the production of organic acids for the removal of heavy metals from sludge has been extensively studied. However, there is scarce information on the use of microflora for fermentation. Objectives. To assess the efficacy of cassava peel extracts for the removal of heavy metals from hospital sewage sludge in Nigeria. Methods. A composite sewage sludge sample was collected from the University College Hospital sewage treatment plant in Ibadan, Nigeria and analyzed for heavy metals using standard methods. Aspergillus niger fermentation and crude fermentation extract were obtained from the cassava peels strain of Aspergillus niger and indigenous microflora, respectively. The experiment was carried out by adding 10 ml of the treatment to 3 g of each sludge sample (extracts and controls) at varied temperatures (room and elevated) and pH (3–5). The mixture was centrifuged after a contact time of 1–12 days at 1000 rpm for 1 hour. The filtrate was analyzed for heavy metals concentrations and compared with the standards. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and adsorption models. Results. Mean heavy metal concentrations in the sludge were estimated for copper (2.22±0.2 mg/kg), zinc (52.3±0.1 mg/kg), chromium (1.46±0.1 mg/kg), nickel (5.6±0.01 mg/kg), and lead (1.9±0.1 mg/kg) and were below permissible limits. Optimum heavy metal removal for Aspergillus niger fermentation extract at room temperature was achieved on day 12 at pH 3.5 for zinc (74.5%), while optimum heavy metal removal at elevated temperature was achieved on day 9 at pH 3.0 for lead (79.3%). The optimum pH for crude fermentation extract lies between pH 3.0–4.5 for nickel (76.2%) at room temperature and chromium (76.6%) at elevated temperature. Conclusions. Crude fermentation extract of cassava peel was found to be effective in removing heavy metals from sewage sludge. Therefore, its use could be adopted and promoted for removing heavy metals from sewage sludge to achieve safe disposal. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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In this study, enzymatic saccharification of soaking assisted and thermal pretreated cassava peels waste was investigated using the response surface methodology. Optimization studies on fermentable sugar yield for bioethanol production were carried out. The effect of substrate loading (% w/v), α-amylase concentration (U/g), amyloglucosidase concentration (U/mL) and cellulase concentration (% v/w) were investigated within the range of 10–30, 90–150, 30–100 and 0–3 respectively. The model gave a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.89 and the optimum process conditions established were substrate loading of 10.16% w/v, α-amylase concentration of 125.3 U/g, amyloglucosidase concentration of 74.06 U/mL and 2.34% v/w cellulase. Experimental validation gave 0.58 g/g fermentable sugar yield and a saccharification efficiency of 78.66%. FTIR analysis revealed the changes in the functional group which further corroborated the effectiveness of these enzymatic conditions. Subsequent fermentation of the hydrolysate gave an ethanol yield of 0.53 g/g using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The study therefore substantiates the potential of cassava peels waste for bioethanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research study, cassava peel waste was used as a sole carbon source for ethanol production using the process of fermentation and co-culture techniques. Production of Bio-ethanol from cassava peels was examined using co-culture of Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sulfuric acid solution with concentration of 2 %, 6 % and 10 %, was used to hydrolyze the substrates. Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were further used to ferment the substrates at 28 °C for 4 days. The fermented liquid was distilled at 78 °C and quantity of ethanol produced was determined. These findings proved that 10 % H2SO4 concentrated acid pretreated sample resulted into maximum ethanol yield (37.35 g/ml), pH 4.55, sugar content (15.5 %) and alcohol content (8.5 %) after 4 days. This study further revealed that bio-ethanol can be produced from cassava peels with maximum yield obtained using 10 % H2SO4 acid for hydrolysis and Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural wastes are potential sources for the commercial production of biofuels because of their availability and low market price. In the present study, the viability of producing bioethanol from three varieties of cassava pulp and peel (CPP) was studied. Acid hydrolysis was performed by dispersing 20% w/v CPP in 100 mL of hydrochloric acid. Biological hydrolysis was performed by inoculating gelatinized CPP paste with Aspergillus niger. A set of un-gelatinized control samples was used to investigate the effect of heat pretreatment on the reducing sugar yield. The hydrolyzed samples were fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the ethanol yield was determined. The reducing sugar yield was 110.7 g/L, 100.4 g/L, and 96.7 g/L from acid hydrolysis of three cassava varieties, while a yield of 98.9 g/L was obtained from cassava peel at 0.7 M and 50 min. The gelatinized pulp from the samples hydrolyzed with A. niger consistently produced more reducing sugar than the control samples. The highest ethanol yields were 54.8% and 33.1% obtained, respectively, from a heat-pretreated variety and cassava peel. Results from the conversion of cassava peel readily bring to light a more useful way of managing cassava wastes in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work was carried out to ascertain the viability of spawn produced on cassava peels and used for spawning cassava peels and sawdust substrates and compare the yield with mushroom fruits from the conventional Sorghum bicolor known to be the best material for spawn production. Three different species of mushroom cultures were inoculated on cassava peels, two Pleurotus pulmonarius strains (FIIRO and Thailand) and Lentinus squarroslus. The study of mycelia colonization rate study was done in triplicate. L. squarroslus completed colonization within 18days of inoculation in test tube with a growth mean value of 11.16cm, the two strains of P. pulmonarius (FIIRO and Thailand) completed colonization in 21 days with FIIRO strain having growth mean value of 11.46cm and Thailand strain 11.20cm. Cassava peels spawn production was done in two ways, singly and supplemented with rice bran, yield from different species of mushroom (L. squarroslus and P. pulmonarius (FIIRO Strain) cultivated with cassava peels spawn in the study were compared with sorghum grains spawn. Different weight of 100, 200, 300g were used for cultivation, sorghum grains spawn produced the highest yield (202.13g) from the two species used followed by cassava peels supplemented with rice bran (179.86g) and single cassava peels spawn (124.13g). L. squarroslus did not fruit on cassava peels even with the sorghum grains spawn. The differences from the yield of the three spawn was negligible as the differences was not noticeable (cassava peels 124.133±5.21a, supplemented cassava peels spawn 179.867±0.64a, and sorghum grains spawn 202.133±8.86a). This result verified the use of cassava peels in the production of viable mushroom spawn.

The oil and gas industry faces numerous problems, from the exploration to the production phase. One of the most common problems faced by the industry is the formation of gas hydrates in the pipeline during the deep-water operation. The advancement of kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs) has been rapid. However, as the natural degradation of conventional KHIs, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinylcaprolactam (PVCap), is challenging, there is a need to develop environmental-friendly KHIs with enhanced biodegradability to improve possible environmental risks. Thus, green inhibitors have been developed as a new class of KHIs. Research for enhancement of green hydrate inhibitors, as an alternative for existing low dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHIs), has increased. In this paper, the effect of induction time with presence of cassava peels on the formation of methane hydrate was studied and compared with commercialized inhibitor, PVP. The performance of cassava peels as a kinetic hydrate inhibitor was investigated using high pressure micro differential scanning calorimetry (µ-DSC). For the induction time measurement, linear cooling ramps at a constant cooling rate of 0.5 K/min were used under isobaric conditions. Aqueous solutions of 0.5 wt % and 1.0 wt % of cassava peels were prepared and the induction time of methane hydrate formation in these solutions was measured at pressure ranges from 4.0 to 10.0 MPa. One of the characteristics to be a good kinetic inhibitor is the presence of hydroxyl functional group in inhibitors, which assist to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, thus preventing hydrates formation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirms the presence of hydroxyl groups in cassava peels with wavenumber value of 3370.68 cm−1. Cassava peel solution is observed to delay the induction times at all pressure settings and it is better at 1.0 wt % concentration. However, at lower pressures of 4 and 6 MPa, the performance is less effective when compared to a commercial inhibitor, PVP. At high pressures of 8 and 10 MPa, it can be seen that the performance is as effective as PVP. This research paper shows that cassava peels have high potential to be developed as a gas hydrate green kinetic inhibitor that can be applied for industry usage in the future.

In this study, cellulose and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were extracted and prepared from cassava peels (CPs). The method of the cellulose extraction was performed by alkali treatment followed by a bleaching process. The CNF were prepared by mechanical disruption procedure (homogenization and ultrasonication), and the results were compared with a common acid hydrolysis procedure. The resulting cellulose and CNF from both procedures were then analyzed using FTIR, SEM, TEM, XRD, and TGA. The results show that cellulose and CNF were successfully prepared from both procedures. The physical properties of the produced CNF were different; however, they hadsimilar chemical properties.

Production of L-lactic acid using cultures of Rhizopus oligosporus and Lactobacillus plantarum was investigated. Cassava peels were hydrolyzed by boiling for 1 h in either NaOH or HCl solutions followed by neutralization to a pH of 6.2. Reducing sugar produced from the hydrolysates increased with increasing concentrations of alkali or acid. Samples hydrolyzed with HCl produced a maximum reducing sugar concentration of 402 mg/g substrate while alkali hydrolyzed samples produced a maximum reducing sugar concentration of 213 mg/g substrate. Hydrolysates were amended with 0.5% ammonium sulphate solution and inoculated with either single or mixed cultures of Rhizopus oligosporus and Lactobacillus plantarum and incubated for 48 h for lactic acid production. The best lactic acid production of 50.2 g/100g substrate was observed in a mixed culture fermentation of acid hydrolyzed peels. Mixed culture fermentation of alkali hydrolyzed peels produced a maximum lactic acid concentration of 36.4 g/100g substrate. Un hydrolyzed cassava peels inoculated with a mixed culture of the microorganisms produced only 4.6 g/100g substrate. This work reports an efficient use of cassava peels for bio-product formation through microbial fermentation.

This study reports a hybrid pretreatment strategy for optimum fermentable sugar (FS) release from cassava peels waste. The Response Surface design method was used to investigate the effect of soaking temperature, soaking duration, autoclave duration, acid concentration and solid loading on reducing sugar yield. The model gave a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) of 0.87. The optimum pretreatment conditions of 69.62 °C soaking temperature, 2.57 h soaking duration, 5 min autoclave duration, 3.68 v/v acid concentration and 9.65% w/v solid loading were obtained. Maximum reducing sugar of 89.80 ± 2.87 g/L corresponding to a fermentable sugar yield of 0.93 ± 0.03 g/g cassava peels was achieved upon model validation. A percentage sugar recovery of 90.79% was achieved with a 31% improvement in the FS yield from the enzyme pretreatment. The combined severity factor (CSF) of 0.77 and the low concentration of inhibitory compounds achieved further demonstrates the efficiency of this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of lignocellulosic biomass as important bioresources that can be utilized in many forms has increased in the last few decades. Cassava peels, a lignocellulosic biomass discarded during cassava processing, are commonly found in the tropics and several other countries around the world due to the popularity of cassava as an important calorie source. Interestingly however, a lot of energy deprived, oil dependent countries are also amongst the highest producer of this biomass. Hence, this review explores the suitability of cassava peels as a lignocellulosic biomass substrate for the production of bioethanol. Special consideration to the properties of the biomass drive the conceptualized plant design while conditions for optimal production and salient economic considerations are discussed. A cellulosic biorefinery of this type is expected to help in harnessing the presently improperly managed agricultural processing byproduct with a view to reducing dependence on fossil fuels, which are totally non-renewable and have damaging effects on the environment especially in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a number of energy-poor nations, cassava peels represent one of the most abundant forms of lignocellulosic biomass available, and thus present an opportunity for use in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In an MFC with optimized electrode spacing, biomass produced a power density of 29 mW⋅m–3in a single-chamber air cathode MFC. This work which examines a way to reduce environmental degradation caused by indiscriminate disposal of organic waste also confirmed the presence of naturally occurring electrogenic organism which can be exploited to recover energy as well as supplement energy production in the growing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A comparative analysis of the efficiency of activated carbon produced from fermented cassava peels (CPB), unfermented cassava peels (CPA) and commercial grade activated carbon (CAC) in the treatment of refinery wastewater was carried out. CPB was found to be 8% and 18% more efficient when compared to CPA and CAC in the removal of COD, and 14% and 3% better than CAC and CPA respectively in the removal of BOD5. The removal efficiency of Pb2+ by CPB was 100% compared to 95% and 57% by CPA and CAC while 96% of phenol was removed by CPB against 93% and 83% by CPA and CAC respectively. This better performance of CPB over CPA and CAC is not unconnected with its higher pH resulting from the removal of cyanide from the peels during the fermentation process. However, despite the high phenol removal efficiency by CPB, the concentration of phenol in the treated effluent does not meet the environmental guidelines for disposal. It is therefore, recommended that a two-stage CPB adsorption column arranged in series is necessary to treat refinery wastewater efficiently if it is desired to totally remove phenol from the effluent or reduce the concentration to 0.005 mg/l allowed by the Federal environmental protection agency (FEPA). The equilibrium adsorption test conducted showed that the Freundlich isotherm is a better fit for the adsorption of phenol by the three activated carbons with correlation coefficients (R²) of 0.9364, 0.9383 and 0.9541 for CAC, CPA and CPB respectively. CPB was found to be a better adsorbent as it has the highest adsorptive capacity as evidenced from its better Freundlich exponent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritive potential of rumen liquor fermented cassava peels (RLFCP) was assessed in rabbit nutrition in an 8 weeks trial. The freshly collected droppings from layers were sundried, ground and mixed at 100 g/kg with ground cassava peels, sprayed with rumen filtrate and fermented for 144 hours. Thereafter, one basal diet was formulated to meet the nutrient requirement of a growing rabbit. The maize content (43 g/100 g) of the basal diet was replaced at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % with RLFCP and named as diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. One hundred and fifty mixed sexes healthy 5-weeks old crossbred weaner rabbits were randomly distributed among the five dietary treatments at a rate of 30 rabbits per treatment. The response criteria were growth indices, cost benefit, carcass and organ weight, blood and serum indices. While the average daily feed intake increased (49.27-58.00 g/rabbit/day) with an increased RLFCP inclusion, the average daily weight gain only increased (12.38- 17.75 g/rabbit per day) when the increased RLFCP inclusion reached up to a 50 %. The feed conversion ratio of rabbits fed on the control and those fed on 25 % and 50 % RLFCP was similar (3.03-3.20) (p>0.05). Only the slaughtered weight (1116.50-1416.16 g), dressed weight (477.65-695.85 g), dressing % (42.77-50.14), relative weight (% slaughter weight) of the liver (2.18-2.57) and heart (0.20-0.23) were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. From all the haematological parameters considered; only the packed cell volume (PCV) (35.67-37.15 %), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (32.65-34.05 g/dl) and platelets (275.50-452.00 109/l) were significant (p<0.05) while serum glutamic oxalo acetic transaminase (SGOT) (67.57-113.10 μl), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) (97.43-152.50 μl), amylase (463.50-699.00 μl) and glucose (53.60-100.50 mg/dl) of the serum metabolites measured were significant (p<0.05). The replacement of maize in growing rabbit diet with RLFCP appeared not to compromise the health status of the rabbits and its inclusion at a 50 % of maize reduced cost of feeding by 20 % and promoted better growth performance indicators than the control diet of the RLFCP-based diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to assess the nutrient composition of fresh and dry cassava peels and effects on Telfairia occidentalis Hook in tropical soil. The chemical properties of experimental soil and cassava peel were determined using standard procedures. 2kg of sectioned fresh and dry cassava peels were mixed with 2kg of sandy- loam soil based on treatment. Each treatment was placed in a perforated polythene bag. The following treatments were used; soil --only (control), soil + fresh cassava peel, and soil + dry cassava peel. The organic matter, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium contents in soil containing dry cassava peel were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of the control and soil treated with fresh cassava peel. Similarly, the plant height, root length, leaf number, fresh weight, dry weight and moisture contents of the test crop in soil containing dry cassava peel were comparatively higher than those of the control and soil treated with fresh cassava peel. The utilization of dry cassava peels as organic nutrients supplement for the growth of Telfairia occidentalis is a viable option for replenishing soil nutrients in Nigerian tropical soils. However, it is important to take into consideration the soil nutrient status and crop needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty West African dwarf (WAD) sheep aged 18-24 months with average weight of 17.96±0.89kg, managed under semi-intensive system, were used in a 56-day experiment to investigate the effects of varying levels of cassava leaves (CL) and cassava peels (CPL) supplementation on the performance, haematological indices and faecal egg count of sheep. Animals were subjected to 6 dietary treatments of 100% CL, 100% CPL, 75% CL/25% CPL, 25% CL/75% CPL, 50% CL/50% CPL, and natural pasture (0% CL/0% CPL) in a complete randomized design. Results showed that weight gain (g/day) varied (P<0.05) across treatments from 26.25 to 44.64 with sheep supplemented with 75CL/25CPL having the highest (P < 0.05) growth rate and the least values observed in sheep on control treatment. The dry matter and crude protein digestibilities were least (P<0.05) in sheep supplemented with 100%CPL relative to other treatments. The white blood cells and total protein of sheep varied (P<0.05) across treatments, while supplementary diets of CL reduced faecal egg count in sheep. It was therefore concluded that the performance of sheep managed under the semi-intensive system, grazing natural pasture could further be enhanced through the supplementation of cassava leaves and peels with dietary levels of 75% CL/25% CPL recommended for sheep's optimum performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 16-week experiment was conducted to determine the utilization of ratios of cassava leaf meal, cassava peel and cowpea haulms by West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Thirty WAD bucks aged 8 ± 1.3 months with body weights of 6-6.5 ± 0.12 kg were divided into five groups of six animals and each group randomly assigned to one of the treatments in a completely randomized design. The five dietary treatments were formulated to contain cassava peels, leaves and cowpea haulms at different proportions of 700:100:175 (T1), 500:200:275 (T2), 300:300:375 (T3) and 100:400:475 (T4) g/kg dry matter (DM), respectively. A standard diet formulated to meet the nutrient requirement of the animals with no cassava and cowpea haulms was used as the control diet (T5). DM intake ranged from 316.16 to 458.73 g/day and significantly increased (linear (L), quadratic (Q), cubic (C): P < 0.05) as the inclusion of cassava peels reduced and cassava leaves and cowpea haulms increased in the diets. The crude protein (CP) intake significantly increased (L, Q, C: P < 0.05) as the inclusion of cassava peels reduced and cassava leaves and cowpea haulms increased in the diets. Growth rate values significantly (L: P < 0.05; Q: P < 0.01) ranged from 21.55 g/day in T1 to 43.09 g/day in T4. The feed conversion ratio was significantly (L, Q: P <0.01) lowest in T4 (11.35) and was highest in animals in T5 (14.33). Dry matter digestibility significantly (L, Q, C: P < 0.05) ranged from 78.94 to 89.52 %. The digestibility increased as the inclusion of cassava leaves and cowpea haulms increased and reduced cassava peels in the diets. The highest N intake of 14.75 g/day obtained in T4 was significantly (L: P < 0.01; Q, C: P < 0.05) different from the values of 9.26, 10.56, 11.31 and 12.02 in T1, T2, T3 and T5, respectively. Nitrogen balance values significantly (L, Q, C: P < 0.05) ranged from 2.75 g/day in T1 to 9.15 g/day in T4. It is recommended that cassava peels, leaves and cowpea haulms in the proportion of 100:400:475 g/kg DM improved the growth and digestibility of WAD goats and can therefore be used to sustain animal performance during the dry season in a total mixed ration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]