Management of Nitrogen Flow in Livestock Waste System Towards an Efficient Circular Economy in Agriculture.

Abstract The race is on to achieve high level of efficiency in the attainment of circular economy in Agriculture especially with the aim of sustainable nitrogen management. This cycle in the agricultural sector cuts across livestock farming, agriculture induced waste generation, recycling and utilization, energy generation, crop production, ecosystem protection and environmental management through the mitigation of climate changes. In this work, we access the process and functionalities of livestock waste generated from the piggery farm and the combinations with other by-products such as biochar and ash in comparison with mineral fertilisation (MN) as sources of nitrogen (N) applied in agricultural soil. The experiment was performed in a controlled environment with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in a neutral and an acidic soil. Pig manure was used as the primary feedstock, fed, and processed to biogas and nutrient rich digestate by anaerobic digestion process. The digestate generated were amended with biochar and ash. In the course of the cultivation period, pig manure digestate with other co-amendments showed a positive influence on mobile potassium and phosphorus contents, biomass yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the form of methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide released in both soil types from the amendments were significantly lower when compared to mineral nitrogen treatment. The amendments did not have any significant influence on dehydrogenase activity, especially in the acid soil with the pH negatively influencing the enzymatic activities. The pig manure and pig manure digestate treatments showed positive response in the soil microbial biomass-C in the two soil types when compared to other co-amendments. Application of single use amendment application or in combination with biochar and ash as a means of waste management can enhance the N flow to meet up with crop needs, reduce GHG emissions and reduce potential agriculture’s negative environmental footprint.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Norwegian Agriculture: The Regional and Structural Dimension

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12062506 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 2506

Author(s):

Klaus Mittenzwei

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Regional Distribution ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Animal Production ◽

Small Scale ◽

Agricultural Activity ◽

Resource Base ◽

Farm Structure

This paper studies the hypothesis that farm structure and the regional distribution of agricultural activity themselves have a significant impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture. Applying a dynamic model for the Norwegian agricultural sector covering the entire farm population, the model results support the hypothesis. Even without mitigation options, GHG emissions decline by 1.4 per cent if agriculture becomes regionally concentrated and increase by 1.5 per cent if a policy that favors a small-scale farm structure is put in place. Adding a carbon tax to a policy that leads to regional concentration, may help to reconcile competing policy objectives. A switch from animal production to crop production, and an extensification of animal production keeps a large resource base across the country while cutting GHG emissions.

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Methane/Gasoline Bi-fuel Engines as a Power Source for Standard Agriculture Tractors: Development and Testing Activities

Applied Engineering in Agriculture ◽

10.13031/aea.12262 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 365-375 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carlo Bisaglia ◽

Massimo Brambilla ◽

Maurizio Cutini ◽

Stefano Fiorati ◽

Mark Howell

Keyword(s):

First Generation ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Livestock Waste ◽

Organic Residues ◽

Ghg Emission ◽

Maximum Torque ◽

Performance Results ◽

Standard Tractor ◽

Engine Power

Abstract. Promoting energy efficiency in agriculture means supporting economic growth by reducing both pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while minimizing waste and the inefficient use of natural resources. Biomethane presents an interesting option given its possibility to be produced from livestock waste or other organic residues, with GHG emission savings ranging from 84% to 86% (wet or dry manure). Moreover, experiences with methane-fueled engines are widely available, thus leading to considering the possibility of using such a fuel in the agricultural sector as well. The aim of this research was to develop a first-generation tractor prototype provided with a commercially available bi-fuel engine adapted for the purpose and tested both in laboratory and field conditions. The main design aspects are depicted while the performance results show similar values of engine power and torque (87 kW maximum power for the diesel fuel tractor and 88 kW for the methane-fueled version; 1172 Nm maximum torque at 550 min-1 for the methane and 1155 Nm at 400 min-1 for the diesel tractor) with an autonomy of the methane prototype which is, at present, 40% of a comparable standard tractor. The possible role in farm fleet is also presented. Keywords: Agricultural machinery, CNG, Gaseous bio-fuels, Renewable fuels.

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CREDIT DELIVERY FOR AGRO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GROWTH OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN NIGERIA

10.36108/unizikjb/9102.20.0220 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Ellis I. Idemobi ◽

Peter N. Ofili

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Fish Farming ◽

Least Square ◽

Livestock Farming ◽

Cash Crop ◽

Entrepreneurship Development ◽

Crop Farming ◽

Negative Effect ◽

The Relationship

The main objective of this study is to ascertain the effect entrepreneurship development through credit delivery on the growth agricultural sector of the Nigerian economy. The specific objectives are to ascertain the effect of credit facilities for cash crop production on Agricultural sector; to determine the effect of credit facilities for livestock production on the growth of the agricultural sector; and to determine the extent to which credit facilities for fisheries affect the sector of the economy. The research is a co-relational study which seeks to examine the relationship between entrepreneurship development and the growth of agricultural sector of the Nigerian economy. The data was collected and analysed using the least square linear regression. The results reveal that that credit delivery for livestock farming have positive and significant effect on the growth of agricultural sector. Credit facilities on cash crop farming shows a negative effect on the growth of agricultural sector, while that of fish farming was found not to have significant effect on the growth of agricultural sector. It is therefore recommended that more money be pumped into the cash crop farming so as to boost the agricultural sector in particular and the Nigerian economy in general.

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A Macroeconomic Analysis of Agricultural Sector in Nigeria

Advanced Journal of Social Science ◽

10.21467/ajss.5.1.18-25 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 18-25

Author(s):

Isah Funtua Abubakar ◽

Umar Bambale Ibrahim

Keyword(s):

Value Chain ◽

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Time Series Data ◽

Tourism Industry ◽

Series Data ◽

Size Analysis ◽

The Real ◽

Real Gdp ◽

The Impact

This paper attempts to study the Nigerian agriculture industry as a panacea to growth as well as an anchor to the diversification agenda of the present government. To do this, the time series data of the four agriculture subsectors of crop production, livestock, forestry and fishery were analysed as stimulus to the Real GDP from 1981-2016 in order to explicate the individual contributions of the subsectors to the RGDP in order to guide the policy thrust on diversification. Using the Johansen approach to cointegration, all the variables were found to be cointegrated. With the exception of the forestry subsector, all the three subsectors were seen to have impacted on the real GDP at varying degrees during the time under review. The crop production subsector has the highest impact, however, taking size-by-size analysis, the livestock subsector could be of much importance due to its ability to retain its value chain and high investment returns particularly in poultry. Therefore, it is recommended that, the government should intensify efforts to retain the value chain in the crop production subsector, in order to harness its potentials optimally through the encouragement of the establishment of agriculture cottage industries. Secondly, the livestock subsector is found to be the most rapidly growing and commercialized subsector. Therefore, it should be the prime subsector to hinge the diversification agenda naturally. Lastly, the tourism industry which is a source through which the impact of the subsector is channeled to the GDP should be developed, in order to improve the impact of such channel to GDP with the sole objective to resuscitate the forestry subsector.

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Economic and Environmental Consequences of the ECJ Genome Editing Judgment in Agriculture

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11061212 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1212

Author(s):

Alexander Gocht ◽

Nicola Consmüller ◽

Ferike Thom ◽

Harald Grethe

Keyword(s):

Genome Editing ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Food Products ◽

Food Prices ◽

Farm Income ◽

The European Union ◽

Environmental Consequences ◽

European Court ◽

The Eu

Genome-edited crops are on the verge of being placed on the market and their agricultural and food products will thus be internationally traded soon. National regulations, however, diverge regarding the classification of genome-edited crops. Major countries such as the US and Brazil do not specifically regulate genome-edited crops, while in the European Union, they fall under GMO legislation, according to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). As it is in some cases impossible to analytically distinguish between products from genome-edited plants and those from non-genome-edited plants, EU importers may fear the risk of violating EU legislation. They may choose not to import any agricultural and food products based on crops for which genome-edited varieties are available. Therefore, crop products of which the EU is currently a net importer would become more expensive in the EU, and production would intensify. Furthermore, an intense substitution of products covered and not covered by genome editing would occur in consumption, production, and trade. We analyzed the effects of such a cease of EU imports for cereals and soy in the EU agricultural sector with the comparative static agricultural sector equilibrium model CAPRI. Our results indicate dramatic effects on agricultural and food prices as well as on farm income. The intensification of EU agriculture may result in negative net environmental effects in the EU as well as in an increase in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This suggests that trade effects should be considered when developing domestic regulation for genome-edited crops.

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Renewable energy generation from livestock waste for a sustainable circular economy in Bangladesh

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.rser.2020.110695 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 139 ◽

pp. 110695

Author(s):

KM Nazmul Islam ◽

Tapan Sarker ◽

Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary ◽

Anashuwa Chowdhury Atri ◽

Mohammad Shafiul Alam

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Energy Generation ◽

Livestock Waste ◽

Renewable Energy Generation

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Effect of bioactive compounds released from Brassicaceae defatted seed meals on bacterial load in pig manure

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-021-14321-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Luisa Ugolini ◽

Donatella Scarafile ◽

Roberto Matteo ◽

Eleonora Pagnotta ◽

Lorena Malaguti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Bacterial Population ◽

Bacterial Load ◽

Bacterial Pathogen ◽

Animal Manure ◽

Pig Manure ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Enzymatic System ◽

Livestock Waste ◽

Natural Substances

AbstractAnimal manure application to soils is considered to be one of the main cause of antibiotic and bacterial pathogen spread in the environment. Pig livestock, which is the source of one of the most used fertilizer for cultivated land, is also a hotspot for antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Besides harsh chemical and physical sanitization treatments for the abatement of antibiotics and bacterial load in livestock waste, more sustainable and environmentally friendly strategies need to be considered. In this context, the use of natural substances which are proved useful for pest and disease control is currently under exploration for their role in the reduction of bacterial pathogen population. Among these, plants and derived products from the Brassicaceae family, characterized by the presence of a defensive glucosinolate-myrosinase enzymatic system, have been successfully exploited for years in agriculture using the so-called biofumigation technique against crop diseases. Although the application of biofumigation to suppress a range of soil borne pests has been well documented, no studies have been examined to reduce bacterial population in animal waste. In the present study, the release and the antibacterial activity of bioactive compounds deriving from different Brassicaceae defatted seed meals against pathogens and bacterial population in pig manure is addressed. Rapistrum rugosum and Brassica nigra defatted seed meals were found to be the most active products against tested pathogens and able to significantly reduce the bacterial load in the manure.

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The ‘3CE2CE’ Framework—Change Management Towards a Circular Economy: Opportunities for Agribusiness

Circular Economy and Sustainability ◽

10.1007/s43615-021-00057-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nan-Hua Nadja Yang ◽

Ana Carolina Bertassini ◽

Jéssica Alves Justo Mendes ◽

Mateus Cecílio Gerolamo

Keyword(s):

Content Analysis ◽

Literature Review ◽

Change Management ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Implementation Process ◽

Managerial Practices ◽

Depth Analysis ◽

The Common ◽

Transformation Processes

AbstractFor the transition towards a circular economy (CE), organisations have to be prepared to adapt to major changes. Thus, the concept and implementation of change management (CM) will be essential to an organisation’s success during this transformative period. Studies have shown that organisational CE barriers were more significant than individual CE barriers. To overcome such obstacles, the most appropriate set of managerial practices should be carefully considered. These barriers also have the potential to influence the agricultural sector, which seeks to adopt more sustainable ways of production. The goal of this paper is to propose a solution framework based on CM strategies to overcome organisational challenges posed by a CE, especially for agribusinesses. To accomplish this objectively, a systematic literature review and a content analysis were conducted. The common errors in CM within the implementation process and the main CE barriers were identified and classified. An in-depth analysis of the issue’s roots led to a solid understanding of how to tackle such CM problems. This paper presents an overview of organisational CE barriers verified in the agricultural context, the common errors in CM, and the correlation between these findings. The two areas were then combined in a matrix that shows the connection between common errors in CM errors and CE barriers. Based on this result, a solution framework called 3CE2CE was developed that provides a step-by-step guide on how organisations can successfully undergo transformation processes towards a CE with the principles of CM.

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