NH3 Emissions From Treated Buffalo Manure Application In Mediterranean climate And Comparison To ALFAM Model

Ammonia volatilization is widely recognized as one of the major environmental European problems, due to the increase in livestock farming activities. As a consequence, accurate ammonia assessment is needed in order to control ammonia emissions and to update national emission inventories. Besides some uncertainties still related to the measurement methods, another important issue is the necessity of investigating a different kind of fertilizers. In the last few years, considerable attention has been paid to many manure treatments prior to field application. This study aims to assess ammonia emissions from the field application of separated buffalo manure digestate in the Mediterranean climate, in order to improve the emission inventory for this animal species, reared mostly in South Italy. Two measuring methods were used: wind tunnel (WT) and Integrated Horizontal flux (IHF). Moreover, ammonia emission measured were compared to those obtained running the statistical regression model ALFAM. This model based on Michaelis-Menten type equation is often used to predict cumulative ammonia loss and since it is based on a significant dataset is useful to discuss the effectiveness of the emission measured. The total ammonia losses measured in 7 days were 26.39 and 49.24 kg N ha-1, for WT and IHF, respectively. Although the predicted total emissions were 40.99 and 36.56 kg N ha-1, for IHF and WT, respectively, it is possible to observe the good accordance of the ALFAM model with the temporal pattern of both methods

Ammonia Emission Assessment After Buffalo Manure And Digestate Application

Quite recently, considerable attention has been paid to the effect of anaerobic digestion on ammonia emissions from digestate spreading in the field, due to the growing interest in NH3 emission monitoring. Unfortunately, there are still some different studies finding about the effect of anaerobic digestion on ammonia emissions. Thus, more research into this topic is still necessary before obtaining a definitive answer to the increment or not in emission. For this purpose, this paper proposes comparison study between ammonia emissions from buffalo raw (Farmyard) manure and digestate on bare soil under Mediterranean climate, using the wind tunnel equipped with acid traps, to assess the ammonia emission fluxes. The sampling campaign, in three replicates, lasted each time, for 6 days to ensure that most of the ammonia has been emitted before the end of each campaign. The results obtained indicate that a diurnal correlation between emission and external temperature occurs, especially during the first days. Specifically for both fertilizers, ammonia volatilization increased with air temperature raising. Overall, the total digestate cumulative NH3 emission is 54% higher than raw manure emission. This is certainly due to the Total NH4+-N rate, which was 55,8kg ha-1 for the raw manure and 107 kg ha-1 for the digestate, around 1,9 times higher for the digestate TAN content. Finding suggests the need for adjusting digestate application rate based on TAN content, in order to reduce the impact on the environment

Energy crops in marginal areas: Scenario-based assessment through ecosystem services, as support to sustainable development

Starting from the identification of marginal areas, this work presents a possible physical–mathematical approach as a support to landscape planning, based on the pragmatic determination of the predictable environmental effects connected to land use changes (LUC) and related to objective and quantitative ecological indicators for environmental impact assessment. “Fringe areas”, which are more suitable to change in a medium-short time frame, were determined through a spatial multicriteria decision analysis (S-MCDA) process. Three land use changes scenarios were identified and analysed, namely: the current situation, energy crop cultivation in marginal lands, and the possible abandonment of lands such as these. Energy crop cultivation in marginal lands is widely considered to be a useful opportunity for farmers, against the progressive risk of under-utilization or abandonment; nevertheless, the large areas needed can cause important environmental side-effects. In order to assess the possible variations in environmental components in the ex-ante planning phase, scenarios were assessed in terms of habitat and biodiversity ecosystems services (using both monetary and indexes approach), focusing also on possible environmental fragmentation analysis by means of landscape metrics, which are simple measures used to deepen landscape configuration and structure. The S-MCDA process allowed about 10% of the study area with less favourable environmental conditions to be defined, where land use change is desirable in a medium-short time frame. For the energy crops scenario, the ecosystem services (ESs) approach highlights positive repercussions in terms of habitat quality and biodiversity value. Similar trends are highlighted by different ESs assessment methods adopted (monetary and indexes), confirming themselves. Also, landscape pattern analysis confirmed positive habitat connectivity trends: the delineation of fringe areas has preserved, in energy crops scenario, natural and semi-natural classes, reducing the risk of disturbance with respect to the biodiversity and habitat. This condition assumes that adopted S-MCDA method can contribute positively and significantly to the definition of LUC scenarios and land management. In conclusion, marginal lands can become an opportunity to improve socio-economic conditions and to enhance land image, while respecting the environment. LUC scenarios building, and their assessment by means of ecological indicators become a dynamic and structured tool in the land use planning /management process to support decision maker choices and to re-calibrate interventions, with the aim of contributing to sustainable policies of land management (ecological corridors, compensation and / or mitigation measures, etc.), emphasizing land sustainable management benefits (such as climate change adaptation or disaster risk reduction)

Identification of Marginal Landscapes as Support for Sustainable Development: GIS-Based Analysis and Landscape Metrics Assessment in Southern Italy Areas

Landscape is increasingly characterized by a multifaced nature. In scientific literature and landscape governance, new landscape definitions are often coined to explain new meanings and to define specific intervention strategies and tools. The present study purposes a framework for the identification of hybrid landscapes as support for land-use planners, which aim to guarantee development opportunities as well as natural heritage preservation and valorization. “Marginal lands” were identified starting from EU Directives and scientific approaches, by means of multicriteria analysis. Different scenarios were built: (1) no-change; (2) energy crops; (3) green infrastructures. An ecosystem services approach, via landscape metrics analysis, was used to compare the possible effects of scenarios. About 20% of the study area, an internal area of the southern Apennines, was identified as suitable for land-use change in a medium-short time, and scenarios of land-use changes show a better condition, in terms of fragmentation, than as a current asset. Results showed the strategic role and potentialities of marginal lands, as a trade-off between nature conservation and development issues, suggesting new opportunities for green infrastructures and a renewable energies chain. The study allowed for deepening the close connection among landscape planning approaches, land use change scenarios building and environmental assessment, focused on the ex-ante evaluation stage

From biogas to biomethane: Techno-economic analysis of an anaerobic digestion power plant in a cattle/buffalo farm in central Italy

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a mature technology commonly used for manure treatment, both for the stabilisation of waste and for the production of energy. The introduction of new incentives could represent an opportunity for biogas production, when the current feed-in-tariffs, which improved the financial feasibility of AD plants producing electricity will end. This paper examines the feasibility of reconverting an existing AD biogas production plant into a biomethane production plant. The AD plant, in this case study, is a two-stage reactor situated in the centre of Italy and mainly fed with livestock manure from both cows and buffaloes. The economic analysis of two hypotheses is provided: i) continuing the electricity production from biogas after the end of the current incentives (2025); ii) considering the new incentives program for the biomethane and reconverting the plant, using hollow-fibre membranes for the purification of the raw biogas (SEPURAN® Green modules, EnviTec). For this purpose, investment and operating costs, based on plant monitoring data (2105.3 m3 d–1, Biogas production; 4432.9 kWh d–1, electricity production) as well as on market analysis for costs evaluation were considered. The mean biogas production for the considered year was about 30% less than the expected production, indicated by producer, highlighting the need for the optimisation of the management of the reactors. Moreover, based on the averaged methane production (June 2017-June 2018), results show that: i) plant conversion for the biomethane production is not suitable for small-scale plants, due to the high investment costs of upgrading technology (1.2 M€); ii) when current incentives end, the electricity production from biogas in the current plant may not be self-sufficient, due to the highly expensive operating costs. This paper provides a first analysis of the possible fate of the biogas plants under the new incentives

Analisi Territoriali a supporto della gestione dei reflui zootecnici: il progetto RiAgri-Sele

L’allevamento bufalino, insieme con la produzione di mozzarella rappresenta un importante elemento di sviluppo del territorio campano e della Piana del Sele, in cui si concentrano l’80 % delle bufale allevate nell’intera provincia di Salerno. La constatazione dei significativi impatti ambientali connessi al comparto zootecnico ed in particolare alla gestione dei reflui zootecnici, unitamente alle normative e nuove limitazioni imposte a livello comunitario e nazionale, impongono il controllo e la riduzione delle emissioni di ammoniaca oltre che di altri gas quali i VOC non metanigeni nel settore primario. Lo studio, in ambiente GIS, in prima istanza della distribuzione spaziale degli allevamenti in regione Campania ha evidenziato Ambiti di Attenzione in provincia di Caserta (nella piana del Volturno e nella regione pedemontana del Matese) e in provincia di Salerno (nella piana del Sele). Tali areali, se da un lato, in assenza di una logistica di spandimento e di adeguate misure di trattamento del refluo tal quale, costituiscono elementi di criticità rispetto alle possibili ricadute sull’ambiente delle emissioni ammoniacali, d’altra parte possono diventare un volano di sviluppo economico e di miglioramento ambientale, se opportunamente inseriti in un sistema di pianificazione e programmazione di trattamenti e di distribuzione. La vivacità del mercato, nella ricerca di ambiti di insediamento e di tipologie impiantistiche efficienti, dimostra un interesse ad investire capitali nel settore del trattamento dei reflui zootecnici. Nell’ambito del Progetto RiAgri-SELE, ad una prima analisi di verifica della disponibilità di suoli idonei allo spandimento (offerta), nella piana del Sele, in funzione del carico di Azoto stimato (domanda), della presenza di Superficie Agricola Utilizzata (SAU), di vincoli naturali, artificiali o culturali presenti, si propone di applicare un modello statistico di stima delle emissioni ammoniacali, quale momento di riflessione rispetto alle possibili ricadute ambientali del comparto. L’approccio, basato sul modello Alfam (https://projects.au.dk/alfam/), in fase di approfondimento, permette di integrare informazioni relative alle caratteristiche dei reflui e tecniche di spandimento utilizzate, con le caratteristiche climatiche (dati di pioggia e temperatura, sia in termini di possibilità di spandimento che di ricadute sulle emissioni). Lo studio in particolare si concentra sui reflui bufalini e sulle sole colture permanenti presenti (frutteti e oliveti), al fine di ipotizzare quantità e tempistica degli spandimenti durante l’anno. I risultati attesi intendono supportare l’adozione di sistemi di gestione dei reflui zootecnici, sia in termini di vaglio delle possibili tipologie di trattamento, sia in termini di stima delle superfici di spandimento necessarie (quantità e localizzazione), che di riflessione di misure di mitigazione degli impatti potenziali derivanti da pratiche agricole poco attente all’ambiente. Il progetto RiAGRI-SELE, in una fase delicata di adeguamento del comparto zootecnico alle prescrizioni derivanti dalla nuova perimetrazione delle Zone Vulnerabili ai Nitrati di Origine Agricola ZVNOA 2017 in regione Campania, si propone in questo modo di sensibilizzare gli operatori del settore e di favorire buone pratiche agricole che possano tutelare il sistema ambientale ed, eventualmente, divenire una ulteriore risorsa economica per il comparto

Monitoring of NH3 and CH4 emissions from dairy cows under storage conditions

Cattle breeding is almost diffused around the world, with a growth of 7% in the last ten years. The increase in manure production makes cattle farms responsible for ammonia (NH 3 ) and methane (CH 4 ) emissions into the atmosphere. Many treatments have been adopted to reduce gaseous emissions, in order to comply with European regulations. Anaerobic digestion (AD) and solid-liquid separation (SLS) can modify the physical and chemical characteristics of manure, which are related to NH 3 and CH 4 emissions. The literature on the effect of the combination of both treatments on CH 4 and NH 3 emissions is still limited. Raw slurry (RS) and liquid fraction of digestate (LFD) were monitored during storage under controlled conditions, measuring NH 3 and CH 4 emissions with the dynamic chamber technique. The air sampled was analyzed using a gas-sensitive semiconductor and electrochemical sensors (Aeroqual, series 500). Results show that SLS and AD reduced the organic matter of manure, thus CH 4 emissions during storage, which accounts for 27% less than RS. On the other hand, AD increased the NH 3 emissions (48,5% more than RS) because of the higher Total Ammoniacal Nitrogen content of LFD. Only studying both gasses and considering the emissions in terms of CO 2 eq, it is possible to observe that RS is responsible for 11.4% of emissions in terms of CO 2 eq, more than LFD