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Alberto Finzi
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, via G. Celoria, 2, 20133, Milan, Italy

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Journal article
Published: 24 July 2021 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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Fertigation offers a practicable solution for applying digestate according to crop requirements during the growing season. Digestate injection in irrigation water can enhance the nutrient use efficiency, but a proper solid–liquid separation system is required to avoid nozzle clogging of drippers or sprinklers. To develop knowledge about the performance of filtration systems making fertigation with digestate feasible in a wider context, four different full-scale filtration systems (one microfilter with a screen size of 50 μm and three vibrating screens with screen sizes of 100, 200 and 500 μm) in farms equipped with driplines or center pivots were evaluated. Filtration system performance was evaluated based on a mass balance, electricity consumption, and a separation index for solids, nitrogen, ammonia, phosphorus, and potassium. Performance depended on type of separator, initial total solids content of digestate, screen size, and input flow rate. The separation index ranged from 25% to 84% for solids, and from 7% to 79% for nutrients. Starting from these performance, a sizing procedure to design a filtration system and optimize digestate's nutrients supply with fertigation was developed. In general, adequate filtered digestate flow rates of 0.8–7.1 m3/h and dilution ratio of 4–10% can be considered. Based on agronomic conditions, digestate composition and irrigation system features, an example design to apply 140 kg/ha of nitrogen during the maize irrigation season is proposed. The correct selection and sizing of the filtration equipment can contribute to the implementation of a sustainable practice for enhanced use of digestate as fertilizer.

ACS Style

Alberto Finzi; Viviana Guido; Elisabetta Riva; Omar Ferrari; Dolores Quilez; Eva Herrero; Giorgio Provolo. Performance and sizing of filtration equipment to replace mineral fertilizer with digestate in drip and sprinkler fertigation. Journal of Cleaner Production 2021, 317, 128431 .

AMA Style

Alberto Finzi, Viviana Guido, Elisabetta Riva, Omar Ferrari, Dolores Quilez, Eva Herrero, Giorgio Provolo. Performance and sizing of filtration equipment to replace mineral fertilizer with digestate in drip and sprinkler fertigation. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2021; 317 ():128431.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alberto Finzi; Viviana Guido; Elisabetta Riva; Omar Ferrari; Dolores Quilez; Eva Herrero; Giorgio Provolo. 2021. "Performance and sizing of filtration equipment to replace mineral fertilizer with digestate in drip and sprinkler fertigation." Journal of Cleaner Production 317, no. : 128431.

Journal article
Published: 23 September 2020 in Agronomy
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Digestate is a nutrient-rich fertilizer and appropriate techniques are required for its application during the maize season to reduce losses and increase the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The performance of two different fertigation techniques (drip irrigation and pivot) were assessed using the digestate liquid fraction. A two-year field test was carried out at two different sites in Lombardy, northern Italy. At each site, fertigation with pivot (P-F, site 1) or drip (D-F, site 2) systems was compared to reference fields where the same irrigation techniques without addition of digestate were used. During the two seasons, the performance of the fertigation systems, amount of fertilizers used, soil nitrogen content, yields, and nitrogen content of the harvested plants were monitored. The digestate application averaged 5 m3/ha per fertigation event with P-F and 4.9 m3/ha with D-F corresponding, respectively, to 28 and 23 kg N/ha. Both irrigation systems were suitable for fertigation provided that the digestate was adequately filtrated. Our results suggest that fertigation with digestate, if properly managed, can be applied during the growing season up to the full amount of nitrogen required by the crop.

ACS Style

Viviana Guido; Alberto Finzi; Omar Ferrari; Elisabetta Riva; Dolores Quílez; Eva Herrero; Giorgio Provolo. Fertigation of Maize with Digestate Using Drip Irrigation and Pivot Systems. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1453 .

AMA Style

Viviana Guido, Alberto Finzi, Omar Ferrari, Elisabetta Riva, Dolores Quílez, Eva Herrero, Giorgio Provolo. Fertigation of Maize with Digestate Using Drip Irrigation and Pivot Systems. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (10):1453.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Viviana Guido; Alberto Finzi; Omar Ferrari; Elisabetta Riva; Dolores Quílez; Eva Herrero; Giorgio Provolo. 2020. "Fertigation of Maize with Digestate Using Drip Irrigation and Pivot Systems." Agronomy 10, no. 10: 1453.

Journal article
Published: 17 May 2020 in Animals
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Protocols for manual weighing of turkeys are not practical on turkey farms because of the large body sizes, heavy weights and flighty nature of turkeys. The sounds turkeys make may be a proxy for bird weights, but the relationship between turkey sounds and bird weights has not been studied. The aim of this study was to correlate peak frequency (PF) of vocalization with the age and weight of the bird and examine the possibility using PF to predict the weight of turkeys. The study consisted of four trials in Egypt. Sounds of birds and their weights were recorded for 11 days during the growth period in each trial. A total 2200 sounds were manually analyzed and labelled by extracting individual and general sounds on the basis of the amplitude and frequency of the sound signal. The PF of vocalizations in each trial, as well as in pooled trails, were evaluated to determine the relationship between PF and the age and weight of the turkey. PF exhibited a highly significant negative correlation with the weight and age of the turkeys showing that PF of vocalizations can be used for predicting the weight of turkeys. Further studies are necessary to refine the procedure.

ACS Style

El-Sayed M. Abdel-Kafy; Samya E. Ibraheim; Alberto Finzi; Sabbah F. Youssef; Fatma M. Behiry; Giorgio Provolo. Sound Analysis to Predict the Growth of Turkeys. Animals 2020, 10, 866 .

AMA Style

El-Sayed M. Abdel-Kafy, Samya E. Ibraheim, Alberto Finzi, Sabbah F. Youssef, Fatma M. Behiry, Giorgio Provolo. Sound Analysis to Predict the Growth of Turkeys. Animals. 2020; 10 (5):866.

Chicago/Turabian Style

El-Sayed M. Abdel-Kafy; Samya E. Ibraheim; Alberto Finzi; Sabbah F. Youssef; Fatma M. Behiry; Giorgio Provolo. 2020. "Sound Analysis to Predict the Growth of Turkeys." Animals 10, no. 5: 866.

Journal article
Published: 19 April 2020 in Animals
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Due to its increasing pressure on dairy cows, studies that investigate how to cope with heat stress are needed. The heat stress affects multiple aspects of cows’ lives, among which their behavior and welfare. In this study, a survey was carried out in eight farms located in Northern Italy to monitor and evaluate the environmental aspects of the barns and the behavioral responses of dairy cows. For one year, three periods were monitored: thermoneutral (T_S), hot (H_S) and cold (C_S) seasons. Temperature and relative humidity were measured by environmental sensors, and lying vs. standing time, number of lying bouts and their average duration were collected by accelerometers. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was quantified inside and outside of the barn. Results show that at the increase of the THI, behavioral adaptations occurred in all the farms, especially with a reduction of lying time and an increase of respiration rate. Four of the eight farms need interventions for improving the cows’ welfare. Here, environmental problems should be solved by introducing or improving the efficacy of the forced ventilation or by modifying the barn structure. Monitoring dairy barns with sensors and Precision Livestock Farming techniques can be helpful for future livestock farming to alert farmers on the need for their interventions to respond immediately to unwanted barn living conditions.

ACS Style

Daniela Lovarelli; Alberto Finzi; Gabriele Mattachini; Elisabetta Riva. A Survey of Dairy Cattle Behavior in Different Barns in Northern Italy. Animals 2020, 10, 713 .

AMA Style

Daniela Lovarelli, Alberto Finzi, Gabriele Mattachini, Elisabetta Riva. A Survey of Dairy Cattle Behavior in Different Barns in Northern Italy. Animals. 2020; 10 (4):713.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Lovarelli; Alberto Finzi; Gabriele Mattachini; Elisabetta Riva. 2020. "A Survey of Dairy Cattle Behavior in Different Barns in Northern Italy." Animals 10, no. 4: 713.

Journal article
Published: 01 April 2020 in Sustainability
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The aim of this 5-year study was to evaluate the technical, economic, and environmental performances of a collective-based integrated treatment system for bioenergy production and nutrients removal to improve the utilization efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of land applied livestock manure. The study involved 12 livestock production units located in an intensive livestock area designated as nitrate vulnerable zone with large N surplus. The treatment system consisted of an anaerobic digestion unit, a solid–liquid separation system, and a biological N removal process. Atmospheric emissions and nutrient losses in water and soil were examined for the environmental assessment, while estimated crop removal and nutrient utilization efficiencies were used for the agronomic assessment. The integrated treatment system achieved 49% removal efficiency for total solids (TS), 40% for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and 41% for total phosphorous (TP). A surplus of 58kWh/t of treated manure was achieved considering the electricity produced by the biogas plant and consumed by the treatment plant and during transportation of raw and treated manure. A profit of 1.61 €/t manure treated and an average reduction of global warming potential by 70% was also achieved. The acidification potential was reduced by almost 50%. The agronomic use of treated manure eliminated the TKN surplus and reduced the TP surplus by 94%. This collective integrated treatment system can be an environmentally and economically sustainable solution for farms to reduce N surplus in intensive livestock production areas.

ACS Style

Alberto Finzi; Gabriele Mattachini; Daniela Lovarelli; Elisabetta Riva; Giorgio Provolo. Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of a Collective Integrated Treatment System for Energy Recovery and Nutrient Removal from Livestock Manure. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2756 .

AMA Style

Alberto Finzi, Gabriele Mattachini, Daniela Lovarelli, Elisabetta Riva, Giorgio Provolo. Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of a Collective Integrated Treatment System for Energy Recovery and Nutrient Removal from Livestock Manure. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (7):2756.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alberto Finzi; Gabriele Mattachini; Daniela Lovarelli; Elisabetta Riva; Giorgio Provolo. 2020. "Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of a Collective Integrated Treatment System for Energy Recovery and Nutrient Removal from Livestock Manure." Sustainability 12, no. 7: 2756.

Journal article
Published: 26 October 2019 in Animals
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Currently, lying behavior can be assessed using continuous observations from sensors (e.g.: accelerometers). The analysis of digital data deriving from accelerometers is an effective tool for studying livestock behaviors. Despite the large interest in the lying behavior of dairy cows, no reference was found in literature regarding the prediction of lying behavior as a function of the interaction of environmental parameters. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of climatic conditions (temperature-humidity index, solar radiation, air velocity and rainfalls) on the lying behavior of a group of primiparous dairy cows, using data from accelerometers, and develop a prediction model to identify and predict the lying behavior of dairy cows as a function of the effects of environmental conditions. Results from the. GLM Procedure (SAS) showed that the model was highly significant (p < 0.001) and the r2 was 0.84. All of the effects in the model resulted in being highly significant (p < 0.001). This model, if validated properly, could be a valid early warning system to identify any deviation from the expected behavior, and to assess the effectiveness of thermal stress mitigation strategies.

ACS Style

Emanuela Tullo; Gabriele Mattachini; Elisabetta Riva; Alberto Finzi; Giorgio Provolo; Marcella Guarino. Effects of Climatic Conditions on the Lying Behavior of a Group of Primiparous Dairy Cows. Animals 2019, 9, 869 .

AMA Style

Emanuela Tullo, Gabriele Mattachini, Elisabetta Riva, Alberto Finzi, Giorgio Provolo, Marcella Guarino. Effects of Climatic Conditions on the Lying Behavior of a Group of Primiparous Dairy Cows. Animals. 2019; 9 (11):869.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emanuela Tullo; Gabriele Mattachini; Elisabetta Riva; Alberto Finzi; Giorgio Provolo; Marcella Guarino. 2019. "Effects of Climatic Conditions on the Lying Behavior of a Group of Primiparous Dairy Cows." Animals 9, no. 11: 869.

Journal article
Published: 23 April 2019 in Journal of Agricultural Engineering
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The reduction of ammonia (NH3) emissions associated with manure management requires identification and implementation of effective techniques. The objective of this study was to measure potential ammonia emissions from animal manure and evaluate emission reductions for five mitigation techniques (straw, sawdust, clay, oil and sulphuric acid). Although numerous studies have evaluated individual mitigation techniques, the variability of their effect with different types of slurries has not been fully investigated. Furthermore, the assessment of ammonia emissions from the subsequent land application of stored manure (or slurry) using different techniques would indicate the practical consequences of the entire slurry management chain. The effects of mitigation techniques were evaluated using a model to simulate field application of slurry. Three techniques were compared: broadcast spreading, band spreading and closed-slot injection. Simulations utilised data from experiments conducted at a controlled temperature on six slurries of three different types: pig, cattle and digestate. Ammonia emissions from the raw slurries (i.e., untreated slurry) were determined using the dynamic chamber technique and compared with those from the slurries treated using each of five mitigation techniques. A subsample of one 1 L of each slurry was transferred into 2 L plastic bottles. An airflow of 1 L min–1 across the headspace was established and then emissions were measured over a period of 24 h. The air outlet was connected to two serial acids traps filled with 1% boric acid. The quantity of NH3 trapped was determined by titration. Acidification and oil addition were the most effective techniques, reducing ammonia emission from raw slurries by more than 95% and 80%, respectively. The mitigation effects of straw and sawdust were higher for cattle slurry and digestate than for pig slurry, while clay had an opposite effect. The overall assessment of ammonia emissions from storage and subsequent field application showed that acidification followed by closed-slot injection emitted at most 12% of the emissions from the reference system, while emissions from acidification followed by band spreading were between 14% and 22% of those from the reference system. The latter appears to be both more effective than broadcast spreading and technically more easily operated than a closed-slot injector.

ACS Style

Alberto Finzi; Elisabetta Riva; Alda Bicoku; Viviana Guido; Seit Shallari; Giorgio Provolo. Comparison of techniques for ammonia emission mitigation during storage of livestock manure and assessment of their effect in the management chain. Journal of Agricultural Engineering 2019, 50, 12 -19.

AMA Style

Alberto Finzi, Elisabetta Riva, Alda Bicoku, Viviana Guido, Seit Shallari, Giorgio Provolo. Comparison of techniques for ammonia emission mitigation during storage of livestock manure and assessment of their effect in the management chain. Journal of Agricultural Engineering. 2019; 50 (1):12-19.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alberto Finzi; Elisabetta Riva; Alda Bicoku; Viviana Guido; Seit Shallari; Giorgio Provolo. 2019. "Comparison of techniques for ammonia emission mitigation during storage of livestock manure and assessment of their effect in the management chain." Journal of Agricultural Engineering 50, no. 1: 12-19.

Journal article
Published: 28 March 2019 in Animals
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Management systems in modern dairy farms is an important issue in relation to animal comfort and welfare. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feed delivery frequency on the behavior patterns, visits to an automatic milking system (AMS) and on milk production of lactating dairy cows. The study was conducted on a commercial dairy farm with automatic feeding and milking systems. Feeding treatments consisted of two different frequencies, high feed delivery frequency (11 deliveries per day) and low feed delivery frequency (six deliveries per day). Lying behavior of 20 dairy cows was electronically monitored. The results obtained showed that 11 deliveries per day feed delivery frequency decreases the number of long-duration lying bouts, which may indicate that a very high feeding frequency disturbs the cows during their resting periods and thus influences both animal comfort and milk production. High feeding frequency may disturb the duration of lying bouts and alter the pattern of lying behavior throughout the day, affecting mainly the lying time during the 60 min before and following the provision of fresh feed. Delivering feed at a low frequency allow cows to distribute more evenly their lying time over the course of the day and improve their utilization of an AMS.

ACS Style

Gabriele Mattachini; Johanna Pompe; Alberto Finzi; Emanuela Tullo; Elisabetta Riva; Giorgio Provolo. Effects of Feeding Frequency on the Lying Behavior of Dairy Cows in a Loose Housing with Automatic Feeding and Milking System. Animals 2019, 9, 121 .

AMA Style

Gabriele Mattachini, Johanna Pompe, Alberto Finzi, Emanuela Tullo, Elisabetta Riva, Giorgio Provolo. Effects of Feeding Frequency on the Lying Behavior of Dairy Cows in a Loose Housing with Automatic Feeding and Milking System. Animals. 2019; 9 (4):121.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gabriele Mattachini; Johanna Pompe; Alberto Finzi; Emanuela Tullo; Elisabetta Riva; Giorgio Provolo. 2019. "Effects of Feeding Frequency on the Lying Behavior of Dairy Cows in a Loose Housing with Automatic Feeding and Milking System." Animals 9, no. 4: 121.

Journal article
Published: 21 March 2019 in Science of The Total Environment
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To increase the sustainable reuse of animal manure as fertiliser, in many cases suitable treatment techniques are needed to modify the composition and obtain a balanced nutrient content. This study was conducted to evaluate the best strategies to remove solids, P, Cu and Zn, using two additives Ca(OH)2 and Al2(SO4)3, in combination with an ammonia stripping process. The assessment was carried out on five type of liquid fractions derived from the mechanically separation of: raw pig slurry, pig digested slurry, pig digested slurry after ammonia stripping, pig and cattle digested slurry, pig and cattle digested slurry after ammonia stripping. After the addition of the chemicals, the liquid fractions were mixed and then separated using a static filter. The contents of total solids P, Cu and Zn were determined. The additives effectively improved separation efficiencies which depended on the type of slurry and additive used. The P separation efficiencies ranged from 72% to 93% using Al2(SO4)3, and from 20 to 74% using Ca(OH)2. The use of Al2(SO4)3 always had a more consistent effect on the removal efficiencies than Ca(OH)2. The ammonia stripping process, reducing the alkalinity of the digested liquid fractions, facilitated a higher concentration of elements in the separated fraction. With the addition of Al2(SO4)3 to digestate after stripping the concentration of P, Cu and Zn in the solid fraction generally increased when compared to the same liquid fraction without stripping. The addition of Ca(OH)2 might be effective in removing P before the stripping process with the additional benefit to raise pH and improve the ammonia removal efficiency. These findings indicate that solid-liquid separation of animal manure slurries, assisted by chemical additives and coupled with ammonia stripping, can be a viable option for improving the sustainable use of animal manure as a fertiliser.

ACS Style

Martina Cattaneo; Alberto Finzi; Viviana Guido; Elisabetta Riva; Giorgio Provolo. Effect of ammonia stripping and use of additives on separation of solids, phosphorus, copper and zinc from liquid fractions of animal slurries. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 672, 30 -39.

AMA Style

Martina Cattaneo, Alberto Finzi, Viviana Guido, Elisabetta Riva, Giorgio Provolo. Effect of ammonia stripping and use of additives on separation of solids, phosphorus, copper and zinc from liquid fractions of animal slurries. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 672 ():30-39.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martina Cattaneo; Alberto Finzi; Viviana Guido; Elisabetta Riva; Giorgio Provolo. 2019. "Effect of ammonia stripping and use of additives on separation of solids, phosphorus, copper and zinc from liquid fractions of animal slurries." Science of The Total Environment 672, no. : 30-39.

Journal article
Published: 12 October 2018 in Sustainability
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Collective manure processing facilities to reduce nutrient loads and produce renewable energy are often proposed as feasible solutions in intensive livestock production areas. However, the transferring of effluents from farms to the treatment plant and back to farms, as well as the treatment operations themselves, must be carefully evaluated to assure the environmental sustainability of the solution. This study evaluated the global warming potential (GWP) and acidification potential (AP) of a collective treatment plant for bioenergy production and nitrogen removal as an alternative strategy to conventional on-farm manure management systems. Two manure management scenarios were compared: manure management on individual farms and management by a collective treatment plant. Data were collected at a collective processing plant and at the individual farms of the consortium to estimate emissions of CO2, CH4, N2O, NOx, NH3 and SO2. The plant receives manure from 21 livestock production units, treating 660 tonnes day−1 of manure. The GWP and AP indicators were calculated to evaluate the potential impact of the two management solutions. The collective solution reduced both GWP (−52%) and AP (−43%) compared to manure management separately by each farm. Further improvement might be obtained in both indicators by introducing mitigation techniques in farm manure storage and manure application to soil.

ACS Style

Giorgio Provolo; Gabriele Mattachini; Alberto Finzi; Martina Cattaneo; Viviana Guido; Elisabetta Riva. Global Warming and Acidification Potential Assessment of a Collective Manure Management System for Bioenergy Production and Nitrogen Removal in Northern Italy. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3653 .

AMA Style

Giorgio Provolo, Gabriele Mattachini, Alberto Finzi, Martina Cattaneo, Viviana Guido, Elisabetta Riva. Global Warming and Acidification Potential Assessment of a Collective Manure Management System for Bioenergy Production and Nitrogen Removal in Northern Italy. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (10):3653.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giorgio Provolo; Gabriele Mattachini; Alberto Finzi; Martina Cattaneo; Viviana Guido; Elisabetta Riva. 2018. "Global Warming and Acidification Potential Assessment of a Collective Manure Management System for Bioenergy Production and Nitrogen Removal in Northern Italy." Sustainability 10, no. 10: 3653.

Review article
Published: 04 October 2018 in Science of The Total Environment
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This paper reviews the environmental impact of current livestock practices and discusses the advantages offered by Precision Livestock Farming (PLF), as a potential strategy to mitigate environmental risks. PLF is defined as: “the application of process engineering principles and techniques to livestock farming to automatically monitor, model and manage animal production”. The primary goal of PLF is to make livestock farming more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and this can be obtained through the observation, interpretation of behaviours and, if possible, individual control of animals. Furthermore, adopting PLF to support management strategies, may lead to the reduction of the environmental impact of farms. Currently, few studies reported PLF efficacy in reducing the environmental impact, however further studies are necessary to better analyze the actual potential of PLF as a mitigation strategy. Literature shows the potentiality of the application of PLF, as the introduction of PLF in farms can lead to a reduction of Greenhouse gases (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) emission in air, nitrates and antibiotics pollution in water bodies, phosphorus, antibiotics and heavy metals in the soil.

ACS Style

Emanuela Tullo; Alberto Finzi; Marcella Guarino. Review: Environmental impact of livestock farming and Precision Livestock Farming as a mitigation strategy. Science of The Total Environment 2018, 650, 2751 -2760.

AMA Style

Emanuela Tullo, Alberto Finzi, Marcella Guarino. Review: Environmental impact of livestock farming and Precision Livestock Farming as a mitigation strategy. Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 650 ():2751-2760.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emanuela Tullo; Alberto Finzi; Marcella Guarino. 2018. "Review: Environmental impact of livestock farming and Precision Livestock Farming as a mitigation strategy." Science of The Total Environment 650, no. : 2751-2760.

Journal article
Published: 31 July 2018 in Sustainability
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Cattle and pig manure contain useful mineral nutrients (N, P, and K) and are therefore used as organic fertilizer. However, excessive applications of manure can cause environmental problems and threaten animal and human health because these materials also hold significant amounts of heavy metals, particularly Cu and Zn. To assess the potential risk due to the increased concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Zn, and Cr) in a harvested crop, two maize hybrids were grown in pots on four different soils with three different fertilisers (urea, pig manure, and cattle manure). Both soil and manure characteristics influenced the heavy metal concentrations in the plant shoots. Organic fertilisation strongly interacted with the soils and, in general, reduced the shoot content of Cu, Mn, and Zn. A preliminary assessment of the heavy metal balance of the agricultural systems based on the intensive livestock production and maize cultivation showed that the potential soil enrichment of the long-term application of livestock manure arises mainly from the application of pig slurries that have a high content of Cu and Zn. The time required to apply an amount of metal that is equal to the initial soil content is 60–300 years for Zn and 240–450 years for Cu, depending on the soil type and the initial heavy metal content.

ACS Style

Giorgio Provolo; Giulia Manuli; Alberto Finzi; Giorgio Lucchini; Elisabetta Riva; Gian Attilio Sacchi. Effect of Pig and Cattle Slurry Application on Heavy Metal Composition of Maize Grown on Different Soils. Sustainability 2018, 10, 2684 .

AMA Style

Giorgio Provolo, Giulia Manuli, Alberto Finzi, Giorgio Lucchini, Elisabetta Riva, Gian Attilio Sacchi. Effect of Pig and Cattle Slurry Application on Heavy Metal Composition of Maize Grown on Different Soils. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (8):2684.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giorgio Provolo; Giulia Manuli; Alberto Finzi; Giorgio Lucchini; Elisabetta Riva; Gian Attilio Sacchi. 2018. "Effect of Pig and Cattle Slurry Application on Heavy Metal Composition of Maize Grown on Different Soils." Sustainability 10, no. 8: 2684.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2017 in Waste Management
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This study assessed a novel technique for removing nitrogen from digested organic waste based on a slow release of ammonia that was promoted by continuous mixing of the digestate and delivering a continuous air stream across the surface of the liquid. Three 10-day experiments were conducted using two 50-L reactors. In the first two, nitrogen removal efficiencies were evaluated from identical digestates maintained at different temperatures (30°C and 40°C). At the start of the first experiment, the digestates were adjusted to pH 9 using sodium hydroxide, while in the second experiment pH was not adjusted. The highest ammonia removal efficiency (87%) was obtained at 40°C with pH adjustment. However at 40°C without pH adjustment, removal efficiencies of 69% for ammonia and 47% for total nitrogen were obtained. In the third experiment two different digestates were tested at 50°C without pH adjustment. Although the initial chemical characteristics of the digestates were different in this experiment, the ammonia removal efficiencies were very similar (approximately 85%). Despite ammonia removal, the pH increased in all experiments, most likely due to carbon dioxide stripping that was promoted by temperature and mixing. The technique proved to be suitable for removing nitrogen following anaerobic digestion of livestock manure because effective removal was obtained at natural pH (≈8) and 40°C, common operating conditions at typical biogas plants that process manure. Furthermore, the electrical energy requirement to operate the process is limited (estimated to be 3.8kWhm(-3)digestate). Further improvements may increase the efficiency and reduce the processing time of this treatment technique. Even without these advances slow-rate air stripping of ammonia is a viable option for reducing the environmental impact associated with animal manure management.

ACS Style

Giorgio Provolo; Francesca Perazzolo; Gabriele Mattachini; Alberto Finzi; Ezio Naldi; Elisabetta Riva. Nitrogen removal from digested slurries using a simplified ammonia stripping technique. Waste Management 2017, 69, 154 -161.

AMA Style

Giorgio Provolo, Francesca Perazzolo, Gabriele Mattachini, Alberto Finzi, Ezio Naldi, Elisabetta Riva. Nitrogen removal from digested slurries using a simplified ammonia stripping technique. Waste Management. 2017; 69 ():154-161.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giorgio Provolo; Francesca Perazzolo; Gabriele Mattachini; Alberto Finzi; Ezio Naldi; Elisabetta Riva. 2017. "Nitrogen removal from digested slurries using a simplified ammonia stripping technique." Waste Management 69, no. : 154-161.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2016 in Journal of Environmental Quality
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Additives applied to animal manure slurries can affect the chemical composition and the biological processes of slurries during storage, with possible improvement of their management and reduction of environmental problems. Some new formulations are marketed claiming a nitrogen (N) removal effect due to denitrification, with the consequence of a reduced N content in the manure after storage. This study evaluated the effects of one of these commercial additives (BACTYcomplex) on slurry characteristics and N losses at a commercial piggery. The additive was applied to four different sectors of the piggery, each with an independent under-floor slurry pit; four other sectors served as controls without treatment. Pits were emptied every 4 wk, and the manure was analyzed for total and ammonia-N and total and volatile solids. Slurry samples from the last month of the on-farm assessment were removed and stored thermostatically in vessels external to the piggery. A subsample of slurry that was treated with the additive at the piggery was treated with an additional dose of additive at the beginning of long-term storage. The additive did not change the composition of the slurry during in-house storage (4 wk duration). During the 155 d of external thermostatic storage, the total solids content of treated slurry was reduced by 18% compared with control slurry, but the N content and composition of treated slurry was unaffected. The additive had a positive effect in accelerating the stabilization of the slurry but did not modify N losses. Copyright © 2016. . Copyright © by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

ACS Style

Giorgio Provolo; Alberto Finzi; Francesca Perazzolo; Gabriele Mattachini; Elisabetta Riva. Effect of a Biological Additive on Nitrogen Losses from Pig Slurry during Storage. Journal of Environmental Quality 2016, 45, 1460 -1465.

AMA Style

Giorgio Provolo, Alberto Finzi, Francesca Perazzolo, Gabriele Mattachini, Elisabetta Riva. Effect of a Biological Additive on Nitrogen Losses from Pig Slurry during Storage. Journal of Environmental Quality. 2016; 45 (4):1460-1465.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giorgio Provolo; Alberto Finzi; Francesca Perazzolo; Gabriele Mattachini; Elisabetta Riva. 2016. "Effect of a Biological Additive on Nitrogen Losses from Pig Slurry during Storage." Journal of Environmental Quality 45, no. 4: 1460-1465.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2015 in Biosystems Engineering
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ACS Style

Alberto Finzi; Roberto Oberti; A.S. Negri; F. Perazzolo; G. Cocolo; F. Tambone; Giovanni Cabassi; G. Provolo. Effects of measurement technique and sample preparation on NIR spectroscopy analysis of livestock slurry and digestates. Biosystems Engineering 2015, 134, 42 -54.

AMA Style

Alberto Finzi, Roberto Oberti, A.S. Negri, F. Perazzolo, G. Cocolo, F. Tambone, Giovanni Cabassi, G. Provolo. Effects of measurement technique and sample preparation on NIR spectroscopy analysis of livestock slurry and digestates. Biosystems Engineering. 2015; 134 ():42-54.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alberto Finzi; Roberto Oberti; A.S. Negri; F. Perazzolo; G. Cocolo; F. Tambone; Giovanni Cabassi; G. Provolo. 2015. "Effects of measurement technique and sample preparation on NIR spectroscopy analysis of livestock slurry and digestates." Biosystems Engineering 134, no. : 42-54.