Use Of Cattle Manure Research Articles

Method for calculating carbon footprint of cattle feeds – including contribution from soil carbon changes and use of cattle manure

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) related to feed production is one of the hotspots in livestock production. The aim of this paper was to estimate the carbon footprint of different feedstuffs for dairy cattle using life cycle assessment (LCA). The functional unit was ‘1 kg dry matter (DM) of feed ready to feed’. Included in the study were fodder crops that are grown in Denmark and typically used on Danish cattle farms. The contributions from the growing, processing and transport of feedstuffs were included, as were the changes in soil carbon (soil C) and from land use change (LUC). For each fodder crop, an individual production scheme was set up as the basis for calculating the carbon footprint (CF). In the calculations, all fodder crops were fertilized by artificial fertilizer based on the assumption that the environmental burden of using manure is related to the livestock production. However, the livestock system is also credited for the fact that the use of manure reduces the amount of artificial fertilizer being used. Consequently, a manure handling system was set up as a subsystem to the cattle system. This method allowed a comparison between different fodder crops on an equal basis. Furthermore, the crop-specific contribution from changes in soil C was estimated based on estimated amounts of C input to the soil.

Use of Manure to Wheat Production in an Argentinean Hapludoll Soil

Beef cattle feeding operations or feedlots generate large amounts of manure that negatively affect the environment. In order to reach an integrated farming system, setting a final destiny for these wastes not to damage the environment, the use of cattle manure in partial or total replacement of inorganic fertilizers has been evaluated. The study was done in sub-humid, sandy pampas region, on an Entic Hapludoll soil. The field experiment was performed using wheat. Four treatments were carried out as follows: a control treatment on the one hand and other three treatments on the other, containing a 116 kg N ha-1 isodose: Inorganic Fertilization (IF), Manure (M) and a mixture of Manure and Inorganic Fertilizers (M-IF) in equal parts. Results show M-IF treatment as the most efficient one, because it had the highest yield with the least negative effects over the environment.

Effect of Integrated Management of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Cattle Manure on the Leaf Chlorophyll, Yield, and Tuber Glycoalkaloids of Agria Potato

Management of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N), is one of the most important factors in potato production. Cattle manure and mineral fertilizers are two sources of N that can affect the quality and quantity of potato yield. The effects of the use of cattle manure (5, 10, 15, and 20 ton ha−1), N fertilizer (50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1), and their interaction on tuber yield, chlorophyll content, and glycoalkaloid concentration were evaluated during field experiments in Iran in 2008 with a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement of three experimental replications. At the time of flowering, chlorophyll a, b, and total (chlorophyll) were recorded by spectrophotometry. Furthermore, at the end of the growth season, tuber yield was calculated and tuber glycoalkaloids were measured by the colorimetric method for the assessment of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of potato. Chlorophyll a, b, and total content increased linearly and very significantly in response to the application of manure and N fertilizer. The interaction between manure and N fertilizer was also significant; somehow the maximum content of total chlorophyll [1.448 mg g−1 fresh weight (FW)] was obtained by using 150 kg N + 20 ton of manure per hectare. Cattle manure, N fertilizer, and their combination had a highly significant effect on tuber yield. Maximum tuber yield (36.8 ton ha−1) was obtained by the utilization of 20 ton manure + 150 kg N per hectare. Total glycoalkaloid content was affected by the N application only. It showed a linear increase in the presence of increased concentration of N fertilizer.

Effect of integrated use of cattle manure and inorganic fertilizers on tuber yield of potato in Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of farmyard (cattle) manure (FYM) and inorganic nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) fertilizers on growth and tuber yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The treatments consisted of factorial com- bination of 4 levels of FYM (0. 10, 20 and 30 t h -1 ) and three levels of inorganic NP fertilizers (0, 33.3%, 66.6% recommended rates) laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. Results demonstrated that the applica- tion of 20 or 30 t ha -1 FYM + 66.6% of the recommended inorganic NP fertilizers significantly increased total tuber yield over the application of full dose of inor - ganic NP fertilizers without FYM in vertisol whereas in nitosol, the highest level of FYM (30 t ha -1 ) + 66.6% of the recommended inorganic NP fertilizers significantly improved total tuber yield over the application of full dose of inorganic NP fertil- izers without FYM. The application of 10 t ha -1 FYM + 66.6% of the recommended inorganic NP fertilizers and 20 or 30 t ha -1 FYM + 33.3% of the recommended inor- ganic NP fertilizers gave a total tuber yield, which was on par with the tuber yield obtained due to the application of full dose of inorganic NP fertilizer alone, in both soils. Thus, the application of 10 t ha -1 and 20 or 30 t ha -1 FYM resulted in a saving of 33.3% and 66.6% of the recommended NP fertilizers, respectively without sig- nificantly reducing the total tuber.

Lima beans production and economic revenue as function of organic and mineral fertilization

Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.) are alternative food and income sources for the population of Northeastern Brazil. In this region, lima beans are consumed either as green or dry grains. However, low yields have been observed, a challenge that could be overcome by adequate organic and mineral fertilization. This work intended to assess lima beans yield, cultivar Raio de Sol, as affected by doses of cattle manure in the presence and absence of mineral NPK fertilization. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Paraíba, Brazil, from September, 2004 to May, 2005. The experimental design was of randomized blocks, with four replications, 40-plant plots, spaces of 1.00 x 0.50 between and within rows, respectively. Treatments were displayed in a 6 x 2 factorial, corresponding to manure doses (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 t ha-1) and presence and absence of NPK. Green and dry grain, and pod yields were analysed, as well as the economic revenue for pods and dry grains. To measure the economic efficiency, pods and dry grains were employed as the exchange units. Maximum pod yields (12.6 and 11.2 t ha-1) were achieved with 21.4 and 23 t ha-1 of manure, with and without NPK, respectively. Highest green grain yields (11.1 and 9.9 t ha-1) were obtained with 21.3 and 22.9 t ha-1 of manure, with and without NPK, respectively. The highest yield of dry grains (3.5 t ha-1) was obtained with 26.6 t ha-1 of manure combined with NPK. In the absence of NPK, the use of cattle manure resulted in an average dry grain yield of 2.0 t ha-1. The maximum economic efficiency for pod production was reached with 17 and 18.6 t ha-1 of manure, with predicted net incomes of 2.88 and 3.36 t ha-1 of pods, in the presence and absence of NPK, respectively. For dry grains, the maximum economic efficiency was achieved with 23 t ha-1 of manure, in the presence of NPK, which produced a net revenue of 2.12 t ha-1 of dry grains.

Produtividade da pimenta-do-reino em função de doses de esterco bovino

Embora o estado da Paraíba tenha mostrado certa aptidão para o cultivo da pimenta-do-reino, sendo possível recomendá-la como alternativa de diversificação agrícola, não existe qualquer recomendação de adubação para a espécie. Este trabalho foi realizado na UFPB, em Areia, PB, e teve como objetivo avaliar genótipos de pimenta-do-reino adubados com doses crescentes de esterco bovino, em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com os tratamentos dispostos no esquema fatorial 5 x 3, sendo o primeiro fator representado pelas doses de esterco (0; 4; 8; 12 e 16 kg planta-1) e o segundo pelos genótipos (Bragantina, Iaçará e Cingapura), com quatro repetições. A pimenta-do-reino respondeu positivamente ao emprego de esterco bovino, nas condições edafoclimáticas de Areia. As máximas produções de pimenta verde por planta, dos genótipos Bragantina (1012 g), Iaçará (1269 g) e Cingapura (627 g), foram obtidas com as doses estimadas de 7,3; 8,6 e 7,0 kg planta-1 de esterco bovino, respectivamente. Para produção da pimenta seca, as doses estimadas em 6,5; 8,9 e 7,8 kg planta-1 de esterco bovino foram responsáveis pelas máximas produções correspondendo a 358, 793 e 204 g planta-1 para os genótipos Bragantina, Iaçará e Cingapura, respectivamente.

방목초지에서 우분 퇴비 시용이 목초생산 및 토양에 미치는 영향

본 연구는 2003년 8월부터 2005년 12월까지 농촌진흥청 난지농업연구소의 기존 혼파 방목초지(해발 200m)에서 실시하였으며 방목 혼파초지에 우분퇴비 시용에 따른 사초생산성 및 토양 개선 효과를 구명하기 위하여 수행되었다. 화학비료 단용구, 우분퇴비 단용구, 화학 및 우분퇴비의 시용수준, 화학비료와 퇴비의 연차별 교호시용 등의 처리를 두어 우분퇴비 시용이 혼파초지의 사초생산성 및 토양성분에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 연간 총건물수량을 비교해보면 시험1년차에는 T1처리구가 11,342 kg/ha, 시험2년차에는 T5처리구가 13,468kg/ha, 3년차는 T6처리구가 10,724kg/ha로 가장 높은 수량을 보였으며 시험기간 동안 평균 건물수량은 화학비료구가 11,486kg/ha으로 가장 높은 건물생산성을 보였지만 처리 간 유의성은 없었다. 처리별 토양성분 변화는 퇴비구에서 화학비료구 보다 유효인산, 유기물 함량 등이 증가를 보임으로서 토양개선효과가 나타났으며 목초의 식생구성율은 처리구에 따라 큰 차이를 보이지 않았으며 봄철에는 화본과가 다소 높다가 여름철이 지나면서 두과와 잡초의 비율이 상승하는 경향을 보였다. This study was conducted from 2003 to 2005 at crop field of National Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, RDA, in Jeju. The treatment consisted of chemical fertilizer 100%(CF 100%, T1), cattle manure 100%(CM 100%, T2), CF 50%+CM 50%(T3), CF 25%+CM 75%(T4), CM 100%(1st yr.)+CF 100%(2nd yr,)+CM(3rd yr)(T5), CM 100%(1st yr.)+CF 100%(2nd yr.)+CF(3rd yr.)(T6). The highest substitution effect of chemical fertilizer for cattle manure indicated that the highest yield(Avg. 11,169 kg/ha) obtained from CM 100%(1 yr.)+CF 100%(2 yr.) treatment. The forage yield of CM 100%(1 yr.)+CF 100%(2 yr.) was 4% more than CM 100% application whereas was 3% less than CF 100% application. Changes of physical and chemical properties of soils for applications of CF 100% and CM 100% was clearly in cattle manure application. Especially, cattle manure application in pasture were superior to chemical fertilizer application with respect to organic matter(OM, %), total nitrogen(T-N, %), and avaliable phosphorous(<TEX>$P_2O_5$</TEX>, %) contents of soils. In this present study, cattle manure application recorded slightly lower forage yields than CF 100% application but the combined use of cattle manure and chemical fertilizer was attribute to reduction of chemical fertilizer application rate as well as maintaining soil health on long-term basis.

Spatial analysis of soil fertility management using integrated household and GIS data from smallholder Kenyan farms

Although soil fertility is recognized as a primary constraint to agricultural production in developing countries, use of fertilizer in Sub-Saharan Africa is declining. Smallholder farmers still rely heavily on livestock manure for soil fertility management. To explore the determinants of soil fertility management practices, including both the use of cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer, data are used from a sample of 3,330 geo-referenced farm households across Central and Western Kenya. A bivariate probit model is applied to jointly examine the use of the two technologies. Particular attention is given to measures of location related to market access and agroclimate, which in the adoption literature have typically been addressed using crude proxies. To avoid such proxies, GIS-derived variables are integrated into the household decision model. Their use also allows the spatial prediction of uptake based on parameter estimates. The results show clearly the derived-demand nature of soil fertility services, based on markets for farm outputs. They also illustrate that supply of manure for soil fertility amendments is conditioned by demand for livestock products, especially milk. The integration of GIS-derived variables is shown to better estimate the effects of location than the usual measures employed, and offers scope to wider use in technology adoption research.

Co-firing of coal and cattle feedlot biomass (FB) fuels. Part II. Performance results from 30 kW t (100,000) BTU/h laboratory scale boiler burner ☆

The use of cattle manure (referred to as feedlot biomass, FB) as a fuel source has the potential to both solve waste disposal problems and reduce fossil fuel based CO 2 emissions. A co-firing technology is proposed where FB is ground, mixed with coal, and then fired in existing, pulverized coal-fired boiler burner facilities. A research program was undertaken in order to determine (i) fuel characteristics, (ii) combustion characteristics when fired along with coal in a small scale 30-kW t (100,000 BTU/h) boiler burner facility, and (iii) combustion and fouling characteristics when fired along with coal in a large pilot scale 150-kW t (500,000 BTU/h) DOE-NETL boiler–burner facility. Part I presented a methodology for fuel collection, fuel characteristics of the FB, its relation to ration fed, and the change in fuel characteristics and volatile oxides due to composting. Part II addresses the pyrolysis characteristics of coal, FB, and blend and presents results on the performance of 90:10 coal:FB (PC) blend as fired in a 30-kW t boiler–burner unit. The boiler–burner unit is made of steel and lined with a cast ceramic liner for long duration operation and a commercial feeding system is used for firing the coal and the blend. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) performed on coal, FB, and 90:10 coal:FB blend reveal that biomass will start releasing gases at 273 °C (523 °F) which is about 100 °C (212 °F) lower than that of coal. The maximum rate of volatile release is about 0.000669 kg/s kg for FB while that of coal is 0.000425 kg/s kg. The experiments revealed that the 90:10 blend burns more completely in the boiler, due to the earlier release of biomass volatiles and higher amount of volatile matter in FB. The NO x emission for coal was 290 ppm, 0.162 kg/GJ (0.3768 lb/mm BTU) and 260 ppm, 0.1475 kg/GJ (0.343 lb/mm BTU) for the 90:10 blend at 10% excess air. Even though the effective N content of the blend increased by 18%, compared to coal the NO x emission decreased which is attributed to the higher VM of FB and more N in the form of NH 3. However, due to limited residence time and higher VM, the CO emission increased from 15,582 ppm, 5.29 kg/GJ (12.305 lb/mm BTU) to 22,669 ppm, 7.81 kg/GJ (18.16 lb/mm BTU) when fuel was switched from coal to 90:10 blend. Large scale pilot plant tests performed at the 150-kW t facility (DOE-NETL) reveal increased falling potential for the blend compared to coal (Part III), emissions were negligible.

Co-firing of coal and cattle feedlot biomass (FB) fuels. Part I. Feedlot biomass (cattle manure) fuel quality and characteristics ☆

The use of cattle manure (referred to as feedlot biomass, FB) as a fuel source has the potential to solve both waste disposal problems and reduce fossil fuel based CO 2 emissions. Previous attempts to utilize animal waste as a sole fuel source have met with only limited success due to the higher ash, higher moisture, and inconsistent properties of FB. Thus, a co-firing technology is proposed where FB is ground, mixed with coal, and then fired in existing pulverized coal fired boiler burner facilities. A research program was undertaken in order to determine: (1) FB fuel characteristics, (2) combustion characteristics when fired along with coal in a small scale 30 kW t (100,000 BTU/h) boiler burner facility, and (3) combustion and fouling characteristics when fired along with coal in a large pilot scale 150 kW t (500,000 BTU/h DOE–NETL boiler burner facility). These results are reported in three parts. Part I will present a methodology of fuel collection, fuel characteristics of the FB, its relation to ration fed, and change in fuel characteristics due to composting. It was found that FB has approximately half the heating value of coal, twice the volatile matter of coal, four times the N content of coal on heat basis, and due to soil contamination during collection, the ash content is almost 9–10 times that of low ash (5%) coal. The addition of <5% crop residues had little apparent effect on heating value. The main value of composting for combustion fuel would be to improve physical properties and to provide homogeneity. The energy potential of FB diminished with composting time and storage; however, the DAF HHV is almost constant for ration, FB-raw, partially composted and finished composted. The fuel N per GJ is considerably high compared to coal, which may result in increased NO x emissions. The N and S contents per GJ increase with composting of FB while the volatile ash oxide% decreases with composting. Based on heating values and alkaline oxides, partial composting seems preferable to a full composting cycle. Even though the percentage of alkaline oxides is reduced in the ash, the increased total ash percentage results in an increase of total alkaline oxides per unit mass of fuel. The adiabatic flame temperature for most of the biomass fuels can be empirically correlated with ash and moisture percentage.

Soil phosphorus dynamics in a Vertisol as affected by cattle manure and nitrogen fertilization in soybean-wheat system

Repeated application of phosphorus (P) as superphosphate either alone or in conjunction with cattle manure and fertilizer N may affect the P balance and the forms and distribution of P in soil. During 7 years, we monitored 0.5 M NaHCO3 extractable P (Olsen-P) and determined the changes in soil inorganic P (Pi) and organic P (Po) caused by a yearly dose of 52 kg P ha—1 as superphosphate and different levels of cattle manure and fertilizer N application in a soybean-wheat system on Vertisol. In general, the contents of Olsen-P increased with conjunctive use of cattle manure. However, increasing rate of fertilizer nitrogen (N) reduced the Olsen-P due to larger P exploitation by crops. The average amount of fertilizer P required to increase Olsen-P by 1 mg kg—1 was 10.5 kg ha—1 without manure and application of 8 t manure reduced it to 8.3 kg ha—1. Fertilizer P in excess of crop removal accumulated in labile (NaHCO3-Pi and Po) and moderately labile (NaOH-Pi and Po) fractions linearly and manure application enhanced accumulation of Po. The P recovered as sum of different fractions varied from 91.5 to 98.7% of total P (acid digested, Pt). Excess fertilizer P application in presence of manure led to increased levels of Olsen-P in both topsoil and subsoil. In accordance, the recovery of Pt from the 0—15 cm layer was slightly less than the theoretical P (P added + change in soil P — P removed by crops) confirming that some of the topsoil P may have migrated to the subsoil. The P fractions were significantly correlated with apparent P balance and acted as sink for fertilizer P.

Effects of continuous use of cattle manure and fertilizer phosphorus on crop yields and soil organic phosphorus in a Vertisol

Soil organic phosphorus plays a significant role in phosphorus (P) nutrition of crops especially in high-P-fixing soils of the tropics. Soil management practices, which favour the accretion of organic P, would, therefore, help in improving soil P fertility over time. In a six-year field experiment with soybean–wheat rotation on a Vertisol, the effects of continuous additions of four rates of animal manure (0, 4, 8 and 16 t ha −1 yr −1) with and without fertilizer P (22 kg P ha −1) on crop yields and soil organic P were examined. Soybean and wheat yields, and P uptakes increased significantly with the addition of manure and fertilizer P. For the similar amount of P input, the yield increases were larger with manure P than with fertilizer P. Combined use of manure and fertilizer P resulted in a greater crop yield and P uptake than their solitary application. Irrespective of the treatment, P content in different organic P fractions followed the order: moderately-resistant organic P (MROP) > moderately-labile organic P (MLOP) > highly-resistant organic P (HROP) > labile organic P (LOP), with their relative proportion being in the ratio of 22:8:5:1. Continuous annual application of manure increased the content of all the soil organic-P fractions, except the HROP, over the control. Addition of fertilizer P together with manure promoted the accretion of soil organic P. Generally the increases in organic P fractions due to manure additions were strongly associated with a concomitant increase in the soil organic carbon. Cropping without manure and fertilizer P depleted soil organic P, while regular additions of manure and fertilizer P favoured its accumulation. The magnitude of depletion/build-up was strikingly larger in MLOP and MROP fractions compared to others, indicating that these two fractions are major sources and sinks for plant-available P in soil.

The homegarden agroforestry system of Bukoba district, North-Western Tanzania. 3. An economic appraisal of possible solutions to falling productivity

Homegardens of Bukoba are a traditional multi-storey agroforestry farming system based on mixed cropping and livestock keeping. Major crops are banana (Musa spp.) grown for food and coffee (Coffea canephora var.robusta) for cash. Livestock keeping is dominated by cattle. Over the last few decades the farming system in Bukoba has been pervaded by a host of constraints ranging from biological to socio-economic. Consequently farm productivity has declined and so has the economic welfare of the people in the area. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 1991 to 72 households in Bukoba district to compare three potential farming systems: the rehabilitation of the homegardens, the cultivation of two annual crops namely maize and beans as intercrops and the continuation of the current non-rehabilitated homegardens. Results strongly support the rehabilitation of homegardens by use of cattle manure and proper crop and livestock husbandry practices. Rehabilitated homegarden has the highest net present value and is not very sensitive to changes in prices of inputs and outputs.