Valorization of Agricultural Biomass Wastes in Nigeria with Focus on Banana Pseudo-Stem, Empty Palm Bunch and Rice Husk
Résumé
Biomass wastes (BW) have gained significant attention recently for their potential use in various industrial applications. This review reports the varieties of biomass wastes, ranging from agricultural to forest residues. The wastes are abundant and pose environmental and health risks despite their positive potentials. However, innovative approaches such as composting, anaerobic digestion, and thermochemical conversion have emerged to transform the wastes into valuable products such as organic fertilizers, biofuels, biochemicals, and feedstuff for animals. Globally, about 140 Gt of agricultural residues are generated each year, while about 517 million tons of this amount remains unexploited each year with over 60% being estimated to come from developing low-income countries like Nigeria. Nigeria is a major producer of agro-products such as bananas, oil palm, and rice in Africa, thereby generating great quantities of biomass wastes with specific reference to banana pseudo-stem, empty palm bunch, and rice hull/husk, respectively, and other wastes. These biomass wastes have been valorized in a number of ways including animal feed production, bioenergy generation, and soil enrichment. Their use as animal feed has been limited due to their poor nutritional balance, suggesting innovative approaches to improve their nutritional value. In conclusion, by promoting sustainable management practices and exploring innovative utilization approaches, biomass wastes, being abundant, can play a crucial role in mitigating environmental pollution, enhancing agricultural productivity, and fostering economic development.