Assessment of nitrogen content in buffalo manure and land application costs

Abstract

Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) livestock for mozzarella cheese production plays a fundamental role in the economy of southern Italy. European and Italian regulations consider nitrogen content in buffalo manure to be the same as that of cattle manure. This study aimed to assess whether this assumption is true. The first aim of the study was to assess nitrogen content in buffalo manure. Samples were taken from 35 farms to analyse nitrogen and phosphorous concentration in the manure. Analysis confirmed a lower nitrogen concentration (2%) in buffalo manure. A secondary aim of the study was to evaluate whether manure application techniques that are apparently less suitable, e.g. splash plate spreader, could be feasible. The cost of different methods of land application of manure and their characteristics were evaluated on the basis of one operational cycle. Considering losses for volatilisation, and taking into account cost assessment, the immediate incorporation of buffalo manure (nitrogen content 2%) is a suitable method of ammonia volatilisation. However, it is expensive and involves high fuel consumption in relation to the environmental benefit.

Assessing Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Nitrogen Loss in a Forage-Based System Using a Modeling Approach

“…Urea 46% is provided as a top dressing. Considering an average N content of the liquid and solid manure of 1.96 g kg´1 [43], the amount of organic N applied yearly to the field is about 157 kg¨ha´1. During the silage corn cycle (dry season), sprinkler irrigation is provided weekly at an average rate of 50 mm.…”

The Sustainability of Agro-Food and Natural Resource Systems in the Mediterranean Basin

“…Recently, Pirlo et al (2014) observed that the environmental impact of dairy buffalo farms, expressed in terms of global warming, was 5.07 kg of CO 2 eq per 1 kg of normalised buffalo milk. Faugno et al (2012) found that buffalo manure has less nitrogen content than dairy cow manure. This difference may be attributed to the fact that dairy buffalo farms require energy inputs for the production and the purchase of raw materials similar to those of dairy cows, but lower outputs in terms of milk production can be obtained.…”

Feeding, Nutrition and Sustainability in Dairy Enterprises: The Case of Mediterranean Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

“…Another aspect of buffalo farming with a potentially high environmental impact is manure management. Faugno et al (2012) found that buffalo manure has less nitrogen content than dairy cow manure. In addition, they suggested that immediate incorporation is the best technique of manure spreading in terms of sustainability, albeit more expensive.…”