1,720,988 research outputs found
Identification of Marginal Landscapes as Support for Sustainable Development: GIS-Based Analysis and Landscape Metrics Assessment in Southern Italy Areas
No full textLandscape 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
GIS-based analysis to assess biogas energy potential as support for manure management in Southern Italy
Full text linkAnaerobic digestion can provide a valuable aid to manure management while producing renewable energy. Biogas production is highly dependent on the size and composition of livestock farms, and the availability of fresh manure can vary throughout the year, limiting reliable assessment of potential production. The aim of this study is to develop an affordable GIS-based analysis to support manure management, based on a highly detailed livestock farm database. Databases refer to the years 2013 and 2019 and report the herd consistency and the age of each class head. Kernel density (KD) was used to identify emerging hotspot areas with potentially high concentrations of nitrogen applied to the field. Three KD classification methods were compared: defined interval (DI) into 3 classes (0-170, 170-340, > 340 kg N/ha), quantile (Q) and natural break (NB). The results show that the DI and NB areas correspond to 40 % and 84 % of the total N of buffalo origin in the Campania region, with a N surplus in the hotspot areas localized in nitrate vulnerable zones of 55 and 6 % respectively. The biogas produced from 50 % of the buffalo manure in these areas generates sufficient energy to allow the removal of the N surplus
The role of geospatial technologies for sustainable livestock manure management: A systematic review
Full text linkOptimal livestock production is a key contributor to the achievement of sustainable development goals. The management and disposal of livestock manure is one of the main issues facing the sector in terms of soil, water and air pollution. Proper and sustainable management of livestock manure also requires a systemic approach to the problem, considering it at different territorial levels. In order to identify existing strategies to support this issue, this review investigated the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis as a support for livestock manure management, highlighting the several GIS methodologies used to provide insight into the complexity, power, and potential offered by these approaches in study areas with different economic, social, and environmental variables, and to provide insights for future research. The study was performed on 139 papers chosen from a literature screening. Three study themes were identified by co-word analysis: Bioenergy, Environmental pollution and Landscape management/development, with a percentage division of research articles of 38 %, 47 % and 15 %, respectively. This study provides a theoretical and prospective framework for the long-term expansion of the livestock sector, which is critical to promoting a balance between sector development and environmental impact. The use of spatial analysis, along with additional tools and methods such as modelling
Ammonia emissions assessment after buffalo slurry application to bare soil in Mediterranean climate
No full textObjectives
Ammonia emissions represent a growing issue for European countries due to the rapid increase in livestock production and next National Emission Ceilings EU Directive adoption, which will limit emissions of NH3 as well as SO2, NOx and NMVOC applicable from 2020 and 2030. Recent researches are devoted to the individuation of standard methods for reliable assessment, consequently many European countries are now building national emissions inventory. The main issue is a lack of data about ammonia losses from buffalo manure, under Mediterranean climate. Buffalo is reared mostly in South Italy, and even if well studied, there are not researches about ammonia emissions. Besides measurement method itself, meteorological conditions influence emissions too. In this paper, ammonia emissions assessment from buffalo manure application to the field under Mediterranean climate is proposed, with aim of giving first data for this animal species.
Methods
During summer period of 2016 an experimental trial combining the use of three wind tunnel (WT) and Micrometeorological method specifically Integrate Horizontal flux (IHF) in circular plot was carried out. Buffalo slurry was applied with splash plate spreader for IHF and manually under WT. Acid traps were used to assess ammonia fluxes from WT. Acid solutions were replaced every 2 hours for the first two days and every three to four hours for the remaining two days. Glass tubes were employed for IHF method, sampled with same time step of WT. Meteorological data were acquired during the trial and soil samples were taken at the end of each day for pH and NH4-N and NO3-N.
Results
Results confirm the reliability of WT assessments in ammonia emissions compared to IHF method. The total ammonia fluxes is in the order of about 40% and 50% (of applied TAN) for WT and IHF, respectively. Moreover, it appears that ammonia loss had a positive relationship with air Temperature and wind spee
How spatial autocorrelation and network analysis can support manure management: a regional approach
No full textAbstract
Efficient management of livestock manure is a challenging task to reduce negative environmental impacts and improve the sustainability of livestock production. To this aim, livestock manure treatment plants are crucial to increase the acceptance of farms and local populations, to meet the requirements of the Nitrates and NEC Directives and subsequently to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda. The study proposes the integration of different spatial analysis methods to optimise the location of livestock manure treatment plants or spreading activities. The study area is Campania, a region in southern Italy, due to its significant livestock production mainly related to buffalo and cattle farms.
The autocorrelation analysis was used to study the spatial dynamics of livestock manure in 2020. In particular, the N/ha load at the municipal level was assessed, in order to identify the hot-spot areas strongly affected by the livestock farms' presence. The network analysis was used to combine critical spatial connectivity information between effluent sources and potential treatment or spreading destinations. Results show two main large areas, in the provinces of Caserta and Salerno, as important patterns in terms of spatial distribution of livestock manure. Manure spreading areas were identified and assessed and possible treatment plants were hypotezed. The study supports both decision-makers, in strategies building for livestock effluent management and their environmental impact reductions, and local farmers, authorities and stakeholders, in assessing the efficiency and convenience of effluent transport and management
Study of aerodynamic performances of different wind tunnel configurations and air inlet velocities, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
No full textLivestock and agricultural activities contribute significantly to atmospheric ammonia emission in Europe. The volatilization process depends on many factors, especially wind speed and rainfall. The most important methods to evaluate ammonia volatilization are the wind tunnel and micrometeorological methods. The tunnels are more flexible and simple to use in every situation. Few studies have been carried out to determine, which conditions are established inside the chamber and how they influence the ammonia volatilization and measurement.
The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of the wind tunnel configuration and flow inlet velocity, by means of CFD simulations and wind speed measurements, in order to achieve a better aerodynamic performance. The SST k–ω model used for simulations was first validated in order to prove the consistency of the model itself. Several configurations were simulated and compared. In particular, in order to overcome the asymmetric flow conditions that occurred in all wind tunnel configurations, four flow distribution devices were proposed and simulated. The best setup was chosen with the purpose of reaching both the best uniform velocity distribution (to ensure homogeneous volatilization from the emitting surface) and easy transport for field applications. It consists of an emission chamber 40 cm wide, 25 cm high and 80 cm long, situated between a divergent diffuser and a convergent duct, respectively 50 cm and 25 cm long. Moreover, structures similar to honeycombs, namely guiding channels, were introduced in the divergent diffuser, because they showed the best aerodynamic performance. These 20 channels, located in the divergent diffuser, prevent flow from separating, by means of the reduction of the expansion angle, obtaining the desired flow conditions inside the wind tunnel. Finally, it was verified that CFD confirmed its usefulness as a decision-support instrument to design and simulate possible solutions, reducing design time
Identification, assessment and management of nitrogen load hotspots from livestock farming: Comparative analysis using regional land-use data and ESA World cover product
Full text linkEfficient nitrogen (N) management is essential for environmental sustainability, soil fertility, and the long-term viability of the livestock sector by reducing nutrient losses, improving resource efficiency, and mitigating environmental impacts. However, accurately estimating N loads and managing them spatially remains challenging. This study evaluates the impact of using two different data sources, traditional land-use maps (CUAS09) and satellite-derived land cover data (WC20), to estimate N loads at a large scale, focusing on livestock manure in the Campania Region, Southern Italy. Specifically, the study aims to assess how differences in spatial resolution and classification accuracy between these datasets influence N load estimation and the identification of suitable manure spreading areas. Furthermore, we investigate the role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in integrating multiple data sources to improve spatial analysis. Spatial analyses compared the data sources under two scenarios: (S1) traditional manure spreading techniques and (S2) advanced methods involving rapid manure incorporation. Results showed notable differences in N load estimation and the area identified as suitable for manure spreading. In Caserta, traditional land-use maps identified 21,899 ha, while satellite-based data estimated 20,571 ha. In Salerno, satellite-based data identified 11,019 ha, compared to 9,706 ha using land-use maps. The total N produced in the two study areas amounted to approximately 4,877 Mg. The overall accuracy (OA) between the two data sources was moderate (51.38 %), with a Kappa Coefficient (KC) of 23 %, indicating discrepancies in spatial agreement. These differences highlight the importance of selecting appropriate data sources for N load estimation and their implications for developing precise N management strategies. The findings emphasize the need for integrating advanced and up-to-date spatial datasets to improve accuracy, identify N hotspot zones, and support sustainable agricultural practices
Assessment of Hydrogen and Volatile Fatty Acid Production from Fruit and Vegetable Waste: A Case Study of Mediterranean Markets
No full textThis study investigates the dark fermentation of fruit and vegetable waste under mesophilic conditions (30–34 °C), as a valorization route for H2 and volatile fatty acids production, simulating the open market waste composition over the year in two Mediterranean countries. Specifically, the study focuses on the effect of the (i) seasonal variability, (ii) initial pH, and (iii) substrate/inoculum ratio on the yields and composition of the main end products. Concerning the seasonal variation, the summer and spring mixtures led to +16.8 and +21.7% higher H2 production than the winter/autumn mixture, respectively. Further investigation on the least productive substrate (winter/autumn) led to 193.0 ± 7.4 NmL of H2 g VS−1 at a pH of 5.5 and a substrate/inoculum of 1. With the same substrate, at a pH of 7.5, the highest acetic acid yield of 7.0 mmol/g VS was observed, with acetic acid corresponding to 78.2% of the total acids. Whereas a substrate/inoculum of 3 resulted in the lowest H2 yield, amounting to 111.2 ± 7.6 NmL of H2 g VS−1, due to a decrease of the pH to 4.8, which likely caused an inhibitory effect by undissociated acids. This study demonstrates that dark fermentation can be a valuable strategy to efficiently manage such leftovers, rather than landfilling or improperly treating them
Effect of Ammoniacal Nitrogen on One-Stage and Two-Stage Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste.
No full textThis research compares the operation of one-stage and two-stage anaerobic continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) systems fed semi-continuously with food waste. The main purpose was to investigate the effects of ammoniacal nitrogen on the anaerobic digestion process. The two-stage system gave more reliable operation compared to one-stage due to: (i) a better pH self-adjusting capacity; (ii) a higher resistance to organic loading shocks; and (iii) a higher conversion rate of organic substrate to biomethane. Also a small amount of biohydrogen was detected from the first stage of the two-stage reactor making this system attractive for biohythane production. As the digestate contains ammoniacal nitrogen, re-circulating it provided the necessary alkalinity in the systems, thus preventing an eventual failure by volatile fatty acids (VFA) accumulation. However, re-circulation also resulted in an ammonium accumulation, yielding a lower biomethane production. Based on the batch experimental results the 50% inhibitory concentration of total ammoniacal nitrogen on the methanogenic activities was calculated as 3.8. g/L, corresponding to 146. mg/L free ammonia for the inoculum used for this research. The two-stage system was affected by the inhibition more than the one-stage system, as it requires less alkalinity and the physically separated methanogens are more sensitive to inhibitory factors, such as ammonium and propionic acid
Livestock Manure dIgestate Treatments to reduce GHGs and NH3 emissions and meet crop nutrients requirement - (LiMIT DGGAS)
No full textThe European Green Deal aims to get climate neutrality through a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases within 2050. A specific challenge is posed for agriculture, that is responsible for 10.3% of the EU’s GHG emissions and about 94% of NH3 emissions, with nitrogen and phosphorous losses exceeding the European limit by a factor of 3.3, and 2.0, respectively, thus threatening terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric ecosystems. One cause can be found in the management of animal manure in livestock and crop production, which is one of the major causes of pollution due to nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon losses. In this sense, anaerobic digestion is a consolidated process that can provide an effective support in livestock manure management, ensuring the production of biomethane and more stabilized effluents for agricultural uses.
Nevertheless, some constraints are still reported in the application of anaerobic digestion in livestock farming since it is a process that does not affect the total N and P content of fed animal manure. Given the importance of the implementation of such a process devoted to producing methane and organic fertilizers, further treatments are strategic to ensure the achievement of Eu Green Deal’s targets.Specifically, great attention has to be posed to the valorization of the field agronomic utilization of digestate while avoiding the release of gases (NH3, N2O, CH4, and CO2) in the atmosphere.Based on these premises, this project is aimed to test two promising treatment strategies based on the recovery of nutrients in digestate, in order to produce new types of fertilizers or amendments. Moreover, the project is aimed to assess the fertilization efficiency of effluents and to monitor gaseous emissions from various phases of the treatment plants, and after the application of treated digested to the soil. With specific regards to soil application of digestate and ammonia emissions, data will be collected according to dataset provided by ALFAM2 model, to improve results for digestate use in Mediterranean climate. For the project’s purpose, two existing treatment plants will be tested in order to overcome the existing gap in the technology and to reduce their environmental impact or enhance their cost-effectiveness. Expected
results of the projects are 1) reducing constraints of treatment strategies for valorizing nutrients from digestate; 2) Evaluating fertilization efficiency of treated digestate; 3) Estimation of NH3 e GHGs emissions from relevant phase of livestock manure digestate chain; 4) Providing dataset for ALFAM2 model; 5) Techno-economic analysis and territorial assessment of treatment strategies adopted. Accordingly, the project will trace the road for a control on by-products quality, valorization of agronomic utilization of digestate, reduction of environmental effects due to the release of pollutant gases, as required from policy-makers and stakeholders
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