[Abstract]: The disposal of animal waste has become a problem in many parts of the world due to the rapid growth in the number and the size of intensive animal industries. Safe waste disposal sites are rarely available and the relocation and/or treatment of animal waste is seldom economically viable. The reuse of animal waste for energy recovery and re-feeding is also not popular. Animal waste is a valuable source of plant nutrients and a very good soil conditioner, and has been commonly applied as fertiliser to agricultural fields. However, due to the increasing oversupply of animal waste in recent years, it has often been applied in excess to the agricultural fields. Excessive application of animal waste, without due consideration of its implications, is a serious concern. The run-off and leaching losses of nutrients from the fields fertilised with animal waste have contributed significantly to the eutrophication and toxic blue-green algae blooms in surface water systems and nitrification of ground water systems. It has also led to nutrient imbalances in the soils and odour pollution to the surrounding communities. The animal waste, which is a valuable source of plant nutrients, has thus become both an economic and environmental burden, and there is a need to develop a strategy for its sensible use as a fertiliser in agricultural fields. Sensible use of animal waste involves the consideration of all the agricultural, environmental, social, and economical limitations. A rational method of achieving this is to restrict the use of animal waste to sites suitable for such uses, identify areas where it can be relocated and applied economically, limit the application rates to a safe level, and observe appropriate manure management practices. This study addressed each of these components by developing a comprehensive manure application plan (MAP) for the site-specific use of animal waste as fertiliser in agricultural fields. Various geographic information systems (GIS) based techniques, including a weighted linear combination model and map algebra based cartographic modelling, were employed to achieve the goal. The appropriateness of the existing techniques and procedures were evaluated and modified to meet the current input requirements. New methods of analysis were devised as necessary. The Westbrook sub-catchment of the Condamine River catchment in south-east Queensland was selected as the study area. The sub-catchment covers 24,903 hectares and contains 39 intensive animal industries. The catchment is also a part of the Murray-Darling Basin, which has been suffering from toxic blue green algae blooms recurrently since 1991. This study identified that only about one-fifth of the sub-catchment area is suitable for animal waste application. Depending on the method of site suitability analysis and the number of input factors used the suitable area ranged between 16 and 22 percent. This comparatively small area is mainly due to the presence of a large proportion of non-agricultural areas in the sub-catchment. The suitable areas were also found to have various degrees of suitability for waste application. However, the degree of site suitability was affected by the number of input factors used in the analysis, the weighting of the factors, and the method of factor attribute standardisation. Conventional methods of weighting input factors were found to be cumbersome and not particularly suitable. Hence, this study developed a new ‘objective oriented comparison’ method of factor weighting. Standardisation of input factors using a continuous, rather than discrete, classification (ie fuzzy set) method was found to be more consistent in degree of suitability determination. The discrete classification of factor attributes into classes of different numbers and sizes, and the weighting of classes to a sum of one, were identified as a limitation in using this standardisation method. A new ‘weight adjustment’ method was devised and demonstrated to reduce factor-weighting biases. The suitable sites, degree of site suitability, and other relevant spatial and non-spatial information were processed within a GIS framework to develop a comprehensive manure application plan. The inherently high presence of available phosphorus in the soils of the study area was recognised and the P2O5 content in the manure was used as the basis for determining manure application rates. A complimentary nitrogen supply map was also generated. Manure management practices applicable to the areas with a lower degree of suitability were also suggested.

Green manure crops are critical to maintaining soil fertility in organic cropping systems. However, little research has been conducted to address their contribution to weed control. Indianhead black lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus), AC Green Fix chickling vetch (Lathyrus sativus L.), and Trapper field pea (Pisum sativum L.) are legumes developed for use as annual green manure crops in the Northern Great Plains. Currently, no plant population density recommendations exist for these three species when grown as green manure crops under weedy conditions. The objective of this research was to determine the yield-density response of these three species under weedy and weedy-free conditions and to develop plant population density recommendations for use as annual green manure crops. Each species was grown at five plant population densities (10, 24, 64, 160, and 400 plants m-2) with weedy and weed-free treatments. Wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and wild mustard (Brassica kaber (D.C.) L.C. Wheeler) were planted in weedy treatments to supplement the natural weed community. Biomass samples and soil moisture measurements were taken at early bud and full bloom to simulate when these crops would be terminated. Biomass samples from the early bud stage were analysed for total nitrogen content. Green manure biomass production for all species was lower under weedy conditions. Weed biomass in weedy treatments decreased with increasing green manure plant population density for all species. Trapper field pea was the most competitive crop while Indianhead black lentil was the least competitive. Although total plot biomass differed among species and green manure crop density, changes in soil moisture levels were not greatly affected. No significant difference in total nitrogen concentration was found among green manure species. Differences in total nitrogen accumulation occurred because of differences in biomass production. Marginal cost analysis based on green manure seed costs and their nitrogen contribution to the value of subsequent wheat crop yield were used to determine optimum plant population densities. Under weedy conditions field pea and black lentil should be planted at densities of 49-78 and 223-300 plants m-2, respectively. Under weed-free conditions plant population densities for field pea and black lentil could be reduced to 45-60 and 184-223 plants m-2, respectively. No profitable plant population density was determined for chickling vetch when assuming a lower nitrogen contribution under both weedy and weed-free conditions. However, when assuming a higher nitrogen contribution, a profitable plant population density for chickling vetch of 24 plants m-2 was determined under weedy conditions and 32 plants m-2 under weed-free conditions.

Root-lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus spp., are serious pathogens of potato plants worldwide. Several management practices can control Pratylenchus spp.; however, they all have shown some limitations. Therefore, environmentally-safe, low-cost, and effective control strategies are needed as possible alternative to currently used strategies. This thesis was designed to assess if liquid hog manure (LHM) holds such potential. The objectives of this thesis were to determine: (i) the prevalence and identity of species of Pratylenchus spp. in Manitoba potato fields, (ii) if short-chain volatile fatty acids (VFA) in LHM are the constituents responsible for the manure’s toxicity to Pratylenchus spp. using solution exposure experiments (iii) the effectiveness of LHM in killing Pratylenchus spp. in soil, and (iv) the impact of LHM on nematode communities. Pratylenchus spp. were detected in 39% of 31 potato fields surveyed in Manitoba with population densities ranging, for positive fields, from 45 to 631 nematodes kg-1 fresh soil. Morphometrics of female nematodes and molecular diagnosis (using species-specific PCR primers) showed that the species of Pratylenchus present in the potato fields to be P. neglectus. Potato, cv. Russet Burbank, showed to be a poor host to two populations of Pratylenchus spp. from Manitoba potato fields. Accordingly, P. neglectus does not seem to be a limitation to potato production in Manitoba; thus, P. penetrans, the most widely spread and damaging species to potato was used in the successive studies of assessing the use of LHM to control Pratylenchus spp. in potato fields. VFA (acetic, propionic, n-butyric, isobutyric, n-valeric, isovaleric, and n-caproic acids) accounted for the majority of the lethal effect of LHM to P. penetrans under acidic conditions. VFA in LHM killed Pratylenchus spp. in soil and acidification seemed to enhance its ability when VFA concentration in the manure is low. LHM did not act as a soil fumigant eliminating soil trophic interactions but increased bottom-up food web interactions. VFA in LHM persisted in the soil for four days with biological degradation being their mode of loss. In conclusion, LHM is potentially an effective and low-cost strategy to control Pratylenchus spp. and its efficacy can be improved by acidification. / October 2009

Green manure crops are critical to maintaining soil fertility in organic cropping systems. However, little research has been conducted to address their contribution to weed control. Indianhead black lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus), AC Green Fix chickling vetch (Lathyrus sativus L.), and Trapper field pea (Pisum sativum L.) are legumes developed for use as annual green manure crops in the Northern Great Plains. Currently, no plant population density recommendations exist for these three species when grown as green manure crops under weedy conditions. The objective of this research was to determine the yield-density response of these three species under weedy and weedy-free conditions and to develop plant population density recommendations for use as annual green manure crops. Each species was grown at five plant population densities (10, 24, 64, 160, and 400 plants m-2) with weedy and weed-free treatments. Wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and wild mustard (Brassica kaber (D.C.) L.C. Wheeler) were planted in weedy treatments to supplement the natural weed community. Biomass samples and soil moisture measurements were taken at early bud and full bloom to simulate when these crops would be terminated. Biomass samples from the early bud stage were analysed for total nitrogen content. Green manure biomass production for all species was lower under weedy conditions. Weed biomass in weedy treatments decreased with increasing green manure plant population density for all species. Trapper field pea was the most competitive crop while Indianhead black lentil was the least competitive. Although total plot biomass differed among species and green manure crop density, changes in soil moisture levels were not greatly affected. No significant difference in total nitrogen concentration was found among green manure species. Differences in total nitrogen accumulation occurred because of differences in biomass production. Marginal cost analysis based on green manure seed costs and their nitrogen contribution to the value of subsequent wheat crop yield were used to determine optimum plant population densities. Under weedy conditions field pea and black lentil should be planted at densities of 49-78 and 223-300 plants m-2, respectively. Under weed-free conditions plant population densities for field pea and black lentil could be reduced to 45-60 and 184-223 plants m-2, respectively. No profitable plant population density was determined for chickling vetch when assuming a lower nitrogen contribution under both weedy and weed-free conditions. However, when assuming a higher nitrogen contribution, a profitable plant population density for chickling vetch of 24 plants m-2 was determined under weedy conditions and 32 plants m-2 under weed-free conditions.

Produktions- och optimeringspotentialen vid anaerob rötning av flytgödsel från nötkreatur granskades. Detta genom att, i laboratoriemiljö, undersöka förändringar i processtabilitet, gasproduktion och metanhalt vid tillsats av kycklinggödsel och pH-buffert med flytgödsel från nötkreatur som grundsubstrat. Tillsatsen av pH-buffert underlättade tillväxtfasen för mikroorganismerna, snabbare ökning i metanhalt och den totala metangasproduktionen ökade. Skillnaden var som störst under tillväxtfasen och avtog från stationärfas och framåt. Tillsats av kycklinggödsel har i detta fall inhiberat processen, möjligtvis på grund av ammoniakinhibering vid tillsats av det kväverika substratet som kycklinggödsel är. / Production potential and basis for optimization of anaerobic digestion with cattle manure was reviewed by examining process stability, gas production and methane content in a laboratory environment via addition of pH buffer and chicken manure with slurry from cattle manure as basic feedstock. Addition of pH buffer facilitated the growth of microorganisms by more rapid increase in methane content and greater quantities of produced methane gas. The effects were high during the growth stage but decreased, during and after, the stationary phase. Addition of chicken manure caused inhibition of the process, probably caused by ammonia inhibition from high nitrogen content in chicken manure.

<p>Produktions- och optimeringspotentialen vid anaerob rötning av flytgödsel från nötkreatur granskades. Detta genom att, i laboratoriemiljö, undersöka förändringar i processtabilitet, gasproduktion och metanhalt vid tillsats av kycklinggödsel och pH-buffert med flytgödsel från nötkreatur som grundsubstrat. Tillsatsen av pH-buffert underlättade tillväxtfasen för mikroorganismerna, snabbare ökning i metanhalt och den totala metangasproduktionen ökade. Skillnaden var som störst under tillväxtfasen och avtog från stationärfas och framåt. Tillsats av kycklinggödsel har i detta fall inhiberat processen, möjligtvis på grund av ammoniakinhibering vid tillsats av det kväverika substratet som kycklinggödsel är.</p> / <p>Production potential and basis for optimization of anaerobic digestion with cattle manure was reviewed by examining process stability, gas production and methane content in a laboratory environment via addition of pH buffer and chicken manure with slurry from cattle manure as basic feedstock. Addition of pH buffer facilitated the growth of microorganisms by more rapid increase in methane content and greater quantities of produced methane gas. The effects were high during the growth stage but decreased, during and after, the stationary phase. Addition of chicken manure caused inhibition of the process, probably caused by ammonia inhibition from high nitrogen content in chicken manure.</p>

The high incidence of upper respiratory diseases, contamination of waterways due to pathogens and nutrients from human and animal wastes, unsustainable deforestation, gender disparities in burden of disease due to unequal exposure to indoor air pollutants, and carbon black emissions from the burning of solid fuels are interrelated problems in many developing countries. Small scale anaerobic digestion provides a means of alleviating these problems by treating livestock waste onsite to produce biogas (methane and carbon dioxide) in rural areas in developing countries. Fuel can then be used for cooking, lighting, and heating. Methane fuel is an alternative to traditional three-stone fires, improved cook stoves, and liquid petroleum gas. However, there is a lack of information available on design methods for these systems. The goal of this research was to develop a design tool that could be used for anaerobic digester sizing based on livestock waste availability. An Excel spreadsheet model was developed for sizing the bioreactor and the gas container based upon recommended values from a literature review. Needed monitoring parameters for operation of an anaerobic digester in the field were identified and standard methods of analysis were recommended. Sample preservation techniques were detailed. Guidelines for pathogen reduction in thermophilic anaerobic digestion were identified. Further study of pathogen reduction in low temperature reactors currently in use in developing countries was recommended. Three digester designs included in the Excel spreadsheet model were: the polyethylene tubular digester, the floating drum digester, and the fixed dome digester. The design tool may be requested from Dr. Sarina Ergas, sergas(at)usf.edu. An organic loading rate of 1.0 kg VS/(m3*d) was chosen for use in the design tool based upon a review of the literature. A semi-empirical kinetic model was developed for defining the SRT based on the temperature inputted by the user. Three case studies, based upon livestock waste availability in a rural community in the Dominican Republic, were analyzed using the sizing design tool. The case studies were conducted on three scales: one household, six households, and a village of 48 households. The specific biogas production rates were, for Case Studies one through three, respectively, 0.0076, 0.0069, and 0.010 m3 biogas/kg Volatile Solids reduced. Additional future work included: characterization of human feces and guinea pig manure, laboratory and field testing of the Excel spreadsheet design tool, and promotion of anaerobic digesters by development workers, non-governmental organizations, and governments.

No description available.

Biomass and biomass-derived waste are important renewable energy sources which plays a vital role in greenhouse gas reduction from fossil fuel.  Biomass can be degraded in a process known as anaerobic digestion (AD) to produce biogas. Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide which is utilized as a renewable source of energy. This project was based on the investigation of AD process in Nordvästra Skånes Renhållnings AB (NSR) a biogas facility in Helsingborg Sweden. A lab simulation of NSR digesters was conducted to evaluate the effects of swine manure on AD using two continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTR) R1 (control) and R2 with a working volume of 4L for 21 weeks. The study was divided into 4 periods and the investigation was carried out by increasing the organic loading rate (OLR) step wise from 2.5 to 3.6 gVSL-1day-1. To assess the effects of swine manure, the performance and stability of the reactors were monitored by collecting data from process parameters. These process parameters included biogas production, pH, volatile fatty acids, methane yield, methane content and organic solids (total and volatile solids). Increase in OLR resulted in increase biogas production in both reactors, however R2 with additional swine manure (15%) produced more biogas than R1. Methane yield was fairly stable during the experiment and had a similar trend in both reactors, but however R2 had a slightly higher average yield (730±60 mLCH4 gVS-1) than R1 (690±60 mLCH4 gVS-1) during the entire experiment. Increase OLR resulted in increase VFA in period 2; R2 with additional swine manure had a lower peak VFA concentration of 25 mM as compared to 33mM in R1.  The characteristics of NSR substrate mix and swine manure provided a good buffering system (stable pH), and reactors were still running stably at 3.6 gVSL-1day-1. Furthermore swine manure was investigated to contain macro-nutrients and trace metals which might have enhanced the AD process in R2 containing more Co, Zn, Ni and Mo than R1. Since this investigation was a simulation, the waste mix used at NSR contained 7% swine manure, this made it difficult to give clearer conclusions about the effects of co-digestion of swine manure on the biogas process since the control (R1) had 7% swine manure. Keywords: Anaerobic digestion, co-digestion, swine manure, substrate mix, organic loading rate, biogas production, methane yield, VFA, process parameters, CSTR.

Magistro darbe tiriama kai kurių medelyno ekologizavimo priemonių įtaka paprastosios eglės (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) sodmenų augimui, vystimuisi, išlikimui, išeigai, dirvožemiui. Darbo objektas – vienerių metų paprastosios eglės sėjinukai ir 2+1 sodinukai bei sideralinis pūdymas. Darbo tikslas – ekologizuoti miško medelyną, pakeičiant mineralines trąšas organinėmis. Darbo metodai – literatūros loginė analizė, apskaitos aikštelių metodas; matematinės statistikos metodai. Darbo rezultatai. Paprastosios eglės sodmenų (pirmamečių sėjinukų ir 2+1 sodinukų) biometrinių požymių matavimai rodo, kad tręšimas kompostu, pagamintu iš mėšlo ir durpės, naudojant 50 ir 100 t ha-1 komposto normas yra netikslingas, nes sodmenims neužtikrinamas pakankamas mitybos lygis. Eglės sodmenis tikslinga tręšti 150 t ha-1 ir didesne komposto norma. Ši tręšimo norma sąlygoja panašius, kaip ir tręšiant mineralinėmis trąšomis, daugelio sodmenų antžeminės ir požeminės dalies biometrinius matavimus (augalų aukštį, šaknies kaklelio skersmenį, šoninių pumpurų skaičių, spyglių ilgį, pagrindinės šaknies ilgį, pirmos eilės šoninių šaknų skaičių). Dažniausiai biometriniai eglių sodmenų parametrai yra mažesni, nei mineralinėmis trąšomis tręštų sodmenų, tačiau skirtumai nėra esminiai. Eglės sodinukų, tręštų 150 t ha-1 komposto norma metinis aukščio prieaugis buvo 10 proc. patikimai mažesnis, nei tręštų mineralinėmis trąšomis sodinukų. Geriausiai eglės sėjinukai ir sodinukai augo dirvožemį patręšus 150 t ha-1... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The master thesis examined some of the nurseries’ ecology tools impact on simple spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) planting stock cultivation, growth, survival, stocks yield, soil. Object of the work – first year seedlings and first year sapling of simple spruce and sideralic lea. The aim of work – to assess ecological organic fertilizer (green manure and compost) usage impact on simple spruce planting stock growth. Methods of the work – logical analysis of the literature, method of accounting sites, methods of mathematical statistics. The results of the work. Simple spruce planting stocks’ (first year seedlings and first year sapling) biometric features measurements demonstrate that fertilization with compost, made from dung and peat, with 50 and 100 t ha-1 compost rate is pointless, as sufficient nutritional level is not ensured for spruce planting stocks. Spruce planting stocks are appropriate to fertilize with 150 t ha-1 and a higher compost rate. This results in similar fertilization rate, as the fertilization with mineral fertilizers, the biometric measurements of many saplings in surface and underground part (plant height, root neck diameter, lateral bud number, spine length, main root length, the number of lateral root in first order). Frequently the biometric parameters of spruce planting stocks are lower than fertilized with mineral fertilizers, but the differences are not essential. The annual growth of spruce saplings, fertilized with 150 t ha-1 compost rate was... [to full text]