Search

Copyright of Human & Nature Safety is the property of Vytautas Magnus 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.)

Manure is characterized by a complex multicomponent composition and can be considered as a source of nutrients for microorganisms and plants. Moreover, manure has a high level of biogenicity. Therefore, this waste can be considered as the main resource for organic fertilizer production. Currently, there are many technological solutions for processing of renewable animal and poultry waste. Fast solid-phase fermentation of the organic feedstock is a most promising technology. Five technological solutions for the fermentation of peat-manure mixture were studied in this work. The optimal temperature and process duration providing the formation of highquality product were divided. The final product was characterized by the high biogenesity, ecological safety and can be recommended as an organic fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decades, ultrasonic technology has gained great interest as an effective mechanical pretreatment method for sludge solubilization and subsequent digestion. Ultrasonication is an environmentally friendly process which has an excellent performance, good technical and operational stability, and compactness. This study aims to evaluate the performance of ultrasonication pretreatment of the wild reproductive crop; giant reed for biogas production via anaerobic co-digestion of grinded giant reed with chicken manure. The influences of different ultrasonication durations including 5, 10, andl5 min as well as various applied power values of 240, 480, and 720 Watt at low frequency of 20 kHz were investigated in terms of biogas yield and methane content. A total of ten bench-scale digesters were set up and operated in batch mode at mesophilic conditions of (35-45°C) at different operational conditions. The results revealed that maximum biogas production of 132 ml/VS with a total methane percent of 57 % was observed in the digester that contained giant reed samples sonicated at applied power of 480 Watt for 10 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of environmentally friendly and biodegradable fertilizers is an area of great interest throughout the world. One such fertilizer is biochar, obtained by the method of biomass pyrolysis (manures, green mass, and mushrooms). Biochar obtained from chicken manure is discussed relatively rarely in the literature; however, it seems to be a good fertilizer because of its significant nutrient content. Moreover, preparation of biochar from chicken manure solves another serious environmental problem: its utilization. The main objective of this work was to research the effect of biochar derived from chicken manure on crop yields in a field experiment. Biochar was prepared by heating manure to 400 ⁰C for 4 h in a 200-L rotary pyrolysis machine. Two plant cultures were used in the experiment: spring barley Hordeum vulgare and spring wheat Triticum aestivum. Biochar was applied at a dose of 30 t ha-1 . Soil treated with a conventional complex mineral fertilizer was used as a positive control (fertilizer containing 6% nitrogen, 15% potassium, and 15% phosphorus was applied at a dose of 0.4 t ha-1 ). Untreated soil was used as a negative control. In the case of barley, the yield increased by 49% with fertilizer as compared with the negative control, while in the case of wheat, no positive effect was observed. Biochar application led to 46% and 41% increases in the yields of barley and wheat, respectively. Moreover, a positive synergetic effect was observed for barley when biochar was used along with fertilizer: 71% as compared with the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of soils in the vicinity of medieval settlement that has only one stage of anthropogenic impact at 5-8th centuries AD was established. For comparison, fertilized soils within the modern rural household were investigated. In order to study the microbiological properties of the soils in either case, series of soil pits were made at different distances from the settlement: in the area of regular manuring, in the area of episodic fertilization and in undisturbed areas. The determination of the number of thermophilic bacteria was performed using the plate counting method. From the date obtained, it was established that around the modern rural household in the regularly fertilized soils, the number of thermophilic microorganisms significantly exceeded the background level. The same pattern in the change in the number of thermophilic microorganisms was found in the soils near ancient settlement. A decrease in the number of thermophilic bacteria in the soils with the distance from the settlement was shown. Their high number indicates the duration and extent of manure usage in agricultural practice in the Middle Ages. A significant increase in the number of thermophiles can be observed only under regular application of cattle manure, composts and other self-heating organic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastes from livestock farms contain significant amounts of antibacterial drugs and antibiotic-resistant genes. Due to weak adsorption in the animal's body, antibiotics are released into the environment in an unchanged form or as metabolites in the composition of manure. In addition to the antibacterial agents, the manure of treated animals contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The use of manure in untreated form as a soil fertilizer can lead to the spread of antibiotic resistance among soil microorganisms. Composting is an effective way to reduce the content of antibiotic-resistant genes in manure. In this paper, the effect of the composting of cow manure contaminated with different concentrations of oxytetracycline on the temporal change in the number of two tetracycline-resistant genes tet(M) and tet(X) was evaluated. The initial concentrations of oxytetracycline in the cow manure were 50 mg kg -1, 150 mg kg -1 and 300 mg kg -1. Composts mixtures were incubated for 4 months. The number of copies of tet(M) and tet(X) genes was evaluated by the real-time PCR method using specific primers. It was found that the introduction of oxytetracycline in manure leads to an increase in the level of resistant genes tet(M) and tet(X). The higher the dose of antibiotic, the more genes were found. With the passage of time of the composting process, the content of resistant genes decreases. On the 75th day, resistant genes were not found in all samples of compost mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pig breeding is a profitable activity for small and large farms, being currently influenced in an increasing extent, by the international competition in this area. As a result, pig breeders must keep pace with changing technologies and production techniques to maintain the competitiveness of their farms. Also, it is necessary to take into account the new European regulations, particularly those relating to the environmental protection, the comfort of animal and food safety. The objective of this paper represents the analysis of the possibility of reducing toxic emissions in swine farms using volcanic tuff and reducing the protein content of compound feed recipes, given that the essential amino acids (lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan) were maintained at relatively constant levels through the addition of synthetic amino acids. The experiments were conducted over 25 days on a total of 90 Large White breed pigs at the growing fattening period, which had an average weight of 43 kg. The protein level of the compound feed recipes administered in the food of the two experimental batches was of 16.56% and 15.79%, being reduced from that of the control batch (17.50%). The two compound feed recipes were supplemented with synthetic amino acids represented by L-lysine, DL-methionine, L-threonine and L-tryptophan, given that energy level was constant at all three batches. Also in the compound feed recipes administered to the experimental batches was added the volcanic tuff at a rate of 2% and 4% respectively. In terms of productive performances was noted at the experimental batches a slight decrease in the average daily gain, an increase in average daily feed intake, which made the specific consumption to grow, but the differences were not significant. There has been an increase in backfat thickness at the experimental batches, although the energy level of the compound feed was maintained constant (approximately 3100 kcal ME/kg). This would be a negative aspect, as the consumer of pork meat requires a low-fat meat and with appropriate organoleptic, nutritional, hygienic and technological qualities. At the end of the experimental period there was a decrease in the amount of nitrogen removed by faeces and urine in the case of compound feed consumption with low levels of protein, while the proportion of nitrogen retained in the body of pigs was relatively close at the three experimental batches, which would suggest that the addition of essential amino acids may influence the protein metabolism in the body. It found a slight increase in the dry matter content of faeces, which made the manure volume to decrease due to lower water content. In conclusion, it can be stated that the use of synthetic amino acids in combination with volcanic tuff can be a solution for reducing pollutants from pigs manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, waste disposal at workmen camp is one of the major problems being faced by many nations across the world. In the workmen colony at Chittapur, a series of kitchens were built for cooking purpose and a number of small canteens are also functioning. Considerable quantity of food waste is collected daily from these eateries and disposed at a faraway place. Food waste is highly degradable in nature, if not disposed properly it causes problems related to environmental pollution. Hence, it is very important to identify an environment friendly process rather than opt for land filling or any disposal method. We worked together to find a suitable eco-friendly solution for the food waste disposal at Chittapur site and suggested that biogas production through anaerobic digestion is a solution for the disposal and utilization of food waste for better purpose. This resulted in setting up a 500 kg per day food waste treatment biogas plant at Chittapur. This establishment is the first time in the construction industry at workmen camp in India. Anaerobic Digestion has been recognized as one of the best options that is available for treating food waste, as it generates two valuable end products, biogas and compost. Biogas is a mixture of CH4 and CO2 about (55:45). Biogas generated can be used for thermal applications such as cooking or for generating electricity. The digested slurry is a well stabilized organic manure and can be used as soil fertilizer. Plant design is to handle 500 kg of food waste /day. 27 kg LPG is obtained from 500kg of kitchen waste. The Value of 27 kg of LPG is Rs.2700/day. Daily 1000 litres of digested effluent was obtained. It is good organic manure with plant micro nutrients and macro nutrients. This can be used for growing plants and in agriculture. The value of manure per day is Rs.250/-. The annual revenue is Rs.10.62 lakhs and the annual expenditure is 1.8 lakhs. The net benefit is 8.82 lakhs. Payback period is 2.1 years. This process controls the environmental pollution and fulfilled the concept of reuse, reduce, recycle and renewable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was carried out in Aleksandras Stulginskis University with a natural magnesium mineral fertilizer - magnesium silicate Serpentine rocks that were grounded and granulated with an impact granulation technology, organic cattle manure compost fertilizer, which was granulated using a device with a horizontal granulator matrix (the diameter of pellets is 6 mm), and the mixture of Serpentine and manure pellets (mixture ratio 1:1, diameter of pellets is6 mm). There were investigated and estimated the biometric and physicalmechanical properties of produced fertilizer granules - pellet granulometric composition and biometric indicators, moisture content, density and pellet strength (resistance to impact forces). Research results showed that the pellet moisture content was sufficiently low, varied from 4.7 % to 14.7 %, and the density of produced pellet was considerably high as it reached more than 1000 kg m-3 DM (dry matter). Results on resistance to the deformation of the investigated mineral magnesium and organic fertilizers indicate that the most resistant granules are the ones that are made of the mixture of Serpentine and manure pellets as they decompose to 550.5 N force, whereas granules of manure pellets (without Serpentine) disintegrate to a 271.4 N force, which is about twice as small as the above mentioned one. Research results have shown that fertilizer granules made of organic manure and mixture with magnesium silicate Serpentine are of high quality, these granules are sufficiently resistant to compression on a static force as well as convenient for storage, transportation and mechanical spreading in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comparative study, take in discussion the natural and over-seeded grassland to determine the maximum efficiency of fertilizers applied on both, and tell which variant is better. For solving the objectives in the spring of 2014, were placed two experiences into the field of Preajba Experimental Center - Gorj, taking into account the selection of land area representative in terms of floristic composition and terrain orography. [8] Both experiences had 8 variants and 3 repetitions being placed after randomized block method, fertilized with manure and NPK (15:15:15), in dose of 50 kg/ha N + 50kg/ha P2O5 + 50kg/ha K2O. The variant used for each experience was: unfertilized (V1), fertilized with 5 t/ha manure (V2), 10 t/ha manure (V3), 15 t/ha manure (V4), 20 t/ha manure (V5), 10 t/ha manure + 50N 50P2O5 50K2O (V6), 15 t/ha manure + 50N 50P2O5 50K2O (V7), 20 t/ha manure + 50N 50P2O5 50K2O (V8). This paper comparing the result obtained on both type of grassland for determining which is better and more affordable on costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock enterprises are the biggest source of point pollution, whose effect on groundwater quality has not been researched enough, so it is not enough to make sound conclusions about their effect on the groundwater quality. The aim of this research was to determine what effect annually manure fertilised fields of large livestock enterprises have on groundwater quality. The experiment was carried out in the Middle Lithuanian Lowland in Kėdainiai district. The groundwater quality research was conducted during 2008-2012 in a manure fertilised field of a livestock enterprise. There were higher Ntotal and NO3-N concentrations (2.4 and 2.8 times respectively) determined in the borehole, which was situated in a manure fertilised field. As groundwater level rises in the boreholes, the Ntotal and NO3-N concentrations increase: in the manure fertilised field - r=0.46 and r=0.53, and in the sheds territory - r=0.41 and r=0.48, respectively. NH4-N concentrations in the boreholes have a tendency to fall as the water level rises - r=0.10 and r=0.28 respectively. Air temperature, rather than the precipitation level and Nmin reserves in the soil, had a bigger impact on the increase of NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations in the borehole, while the mentioned factors had no effect on Ntotal and NO2 - N concentrations. Ntotal, NO3-N, NO2-N and NH4-N concentrations (r=-0.31) in borehole, installed in the sheds territory had a tendency to increase when air temperature was low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information for the present overview on manure management in different countries was primarily gathered through a survey using Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory reports. In Latvia, N2O emissions from manure management account for only 5% of total N2O emissions. Dividing the N2O emissions by all livestock species, 75.9% are produced by cattle, 12.67% - by poultry, and 4.96% - by pigs. In GHG Inventory reports, there are great differences in manure output calculations for all livestock species in different countries (V,% ≥ 20), because all livestock is included in the same group, without separating them according to age or size. Majority of the countries have adopted a significantly higher amount of excreted N with manure from dairy cows as compared to the norms set in Latvia. Especially large differences among the countries can be observed in the groups of fattening pigs and weaned piglets; therefore, additional clarifications are needed for Latvian regulations, as the normative data currently adopted in Latvia is outside the 95% of the value range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was conducted during the years 2008-2012 in the drained fields fertilized by stockbreeding farms' manure, where 2 variants were installed: fertilized and unfertilized fields. The field was fertilized with manure every spring, in which according to the fertilizing value of manure, the following contents of total nitrogen passed into manure-fertilized fields in each year: 2008 - 169 kg ha-1, 2009 - 168 kg ha-1; 2010 - 169 kg ha-1, 2011 - 169 kg ha-1, 2012 - 170 kg ha-1. Maize for cattle forage was grown in experimental fields. The soil of the research subject is sandy loam. In the layer 0-40 cm of the fertilized area, the humus content in the soil fluctuated from low (1.2 %) to high (4.9 %). The content of mineral nitrogen fluctuated from 14.2 to 289 kg ha-1 what corresponded to the nitrogen content very low and very high respectively. The content of humus in non-fertilized soil fluctuated from the very low value (1 %) to moderate value (3 %). The content of mineral nitrogen fluctuated from 10.9 to 130 kg ha-1, what corresponded to the nitrogen content very low and very high. For the purpose of chemical investigations, water samples from drainage were taken once per month. Water analyses were carried out by the accredited Chemical Analytical Laboratory of the Water Management Engineering Institute of Aleksandras Stulginskis University. Ntotal in drainage water was determined by applying the spectrometric method, by mineralizing with potassium persulphate. Soil samples for agrochemical investigations were taken monthly from the depth of 0-60 cm at every 20 cm. To identify the content of nitrogen in the soil, the following research methods were applied: ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4+) - colorimetric with Nessler's reagent in KCl extract; nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3-) -- potentiometric with selective electrode. Analyses of N - NH4+ and N - NO3- were carried out by means of analyser "FIA Star 5012". The composition of manure was identified from one extract prepared by burning with concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and selenium (Se) catalyst. Nitrogen was identified using Kjeldal method, by mineralizing with a mineralizator "Digestor 2006" as well as distilling with a distiller "Kjeltec System 1002 Distilling Unit". To determine the rainfall and air temperature, data from Dotnuva Meteorology Station were used. The aim of this research was to ascertain the impact of large livestock company fields fertilized annually with manure on the water quality in drainage. Investigation results have demonstrated that fields fertilized annually with manure raised the contents of Nmin in the soil by 1.5 times respectively in comparison to the non-fertilized variant. The increase in these contents was conditioned by the higher air temperature and the lower rainfall. The seasonality of Ntotal concentrations in drainage water was discovered: higher concentrations were identified in autumn and winter, lower concentrations - in spring and summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensification of forage plant production is a topical issue, being a means for increasing livestock and livestock production in Romania. In order to increase the yield of forage plants, one must have an open and positive attitude towards intensive technologies that are at the same time "environment-friendly". The objective of our study was to optimize the results regarding the dry matter productiveness obtained for Lolium multiflorum, as an effect of applying manure in the presence /absence of foliar biostimulators MF, FB and CM., and to find the technical solutions that work best under the conditions in Banat area, Romania. Following this study, we obtained mathematical models of the functional dependence (square functions) of the dry matter yield obtained for Lolium multiflorum depending on the application of manure and the three foliar biostimulators. The best production optimization is given by CM + high content of cattle manure (60-80 t.ha-1). Choice of the most convenient solutions is made by selecting those values that determine better framing of the result within the limits set by the restrictions that characterize the intended purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural change in the U.S. dairy industry toward fewer and very large farms has fueled interest and government funding of research into the feasibility of constructing anaerobic digesters on large operations. Environmental groups opposed to increasing scale and concentration in dairy also become opposed to AD technology as it is seen as facilitating concentration. But, AD technology is essentially scale neutral as is seen by its application to very small farms around the world. The conflation of AD technology with large scale in the U.S. is a social construction brought about by its inclusion in the debates over agricultural industrialization. Using a survey of dairy farmers in New York, we find that interest in AD technology occurs at all farm sizes. And that factors other than farm size are important in determining interest in the technology. We conclude that the technoscientific question raised by these findings is: will applications to, and interest of, smaller dairy farmer operators result in shifts in policy and funding priorities toward more diverse agricultural research agendas regarding AD technology? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wallboard construction waste is typically disposed off in landfills, consuming precious landfill space. It is estimated that about 1 ton of wallboard waste is generated for every 2000 sq ft of new construction. On the other hand, animal manure disposal is one of the major challenges faced by the agricultural farmers. Odor and leaching of nitrogen and phosphorus into ground and surface water are major issues concerning animal manure. The objective of this project was to find a reuse for the waste from the construction industry. Wallboard was combined with animal manure and other ingredients to form a value added product (stabilized manure). The stabilized manure had 50% to 90% less odor emissions than the fresh manure. The leaching of phosphorus was lower by 90%. The stabilized manure has significant environmental benefits. This project shows promising results to reduce the construction waste going to landfills and towards a solution to animal agricultural waste issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nitrate Directive (91/676/EEC) sets a limit for livestock manure application to agricultural land. According to the Directive and policy of European Commission nitrogen and phosphorus in manure should be taken into account for definition of livestock units, development of crops’ fertilization recommendations, performing of fertilizer planning and monitoring nutrient cycling in agriculture. Quantification of nutrients in manure is difficult because of great heterogeneity of product. Manure sampling and analyzing is the simplest approach but practically quite unreliable method due to the heterogeneity of product and great variability in chemical composition. Currently in Latvia manure nutrient content reference values has been generalized from sample analytical data. Despite of quite numerous data sets if all sample data is merged together some groups are represented only by the few analytical replicates. Another approach for development of reference values, recommended by EC, is based on relation: NPmanure = NPdiet – NPanimal products – NPlosses. Attempt was made to assess the possibility of using EC methodology for elaboration of new manure reference values. Calculation of nitrogen and phosphorus excretion for cows, growing cattle, sows and slaughter pigs was based on normatives of animal feed (dray matter, protein, phosphorus) requirement. Higher dry matter consumption and lower diet nitrogen content was found in comparison to the default values in some EU countries (Denmark, Netherlands, Germany). The results of nutrient excretion obtained were similar to EU manure nutrient production standard values. Accounting and collecting of information on actual feed used for each category of animals in real farms, feed composition, and nutrient losses is necessary for determination of reference value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]