Anaerobic digestion and milking frequency as mitigation strategies of the environmental burden in the milk production system
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2016
Citazione:
Anaerobic digestion and milking frequency as mitigation strategies of the environmental burden in the milk production system / J. Bacenetti, L. Bava, M. Zucali, D. Lovarelli, A. Sandrucci, A. Tamburini, M. Fiala. - In: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. - ISSN 0048-9697. - 539(2016 Jan 01), pp. 450-459.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to assess, through a cradle to farm gate Life Cycle Assessment, different mitigation strategies of the potential environmental impacts of milk production at farm level. The environmental performances of a conventional intensive dairy farm in Northern Italy (baseline scenario) were compared with the results obtained: from the introduction of the third daily milking and from the adoption of anaerobic digestion (AD) of animal slurry in a consortium AD plant. The AD plant, fed only with animal slurries coming also from nearby farms. Key parameters concerning on-farm activities (forage production, energy consumptions, agricultural machines maintenance, manure and livestock management), off-farm activities (production of fertilizers, pesticides, bedding materials, purchased forages, purchased concentrate feed, replacement animals, agricultural machines manufacturing, electricity, fuel) and transportation were considered. The functional unit was 1 kg fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) leaving the farm gate. The selected environmental impact categories were: global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, photochemical oxidation and non-renewable energy use. The production of 1 kg of FPCM caused, in the baseline scenario, the following environmental impact potentials: global warming potential 1.12 kg CO2 eq; acidification 15.5 g SO2 eq; eutrophication 5.62 g PO43 − eq; photochemical oxidation 0.87 g C2H4 eq/kg FPCM; energy use 4.66 MJ eq. The increase of milking frequency improved environmental performances for all impact categories in comparison with the baseline scenario; in particular acidification and eutrophication potentials showed the largest reductions (− 11 and − 12%, respectively). In anaerobic digestion scenario, compared to the baseline one, most of the impact potentials were strongly reduced. In particular the most important advantages were in terms of acidification (− 29%), global warming (− 22%) and eutrophication potential (− 18%). The AD of cow slurry is confirmed as an effective strategy to mitigate the environmental impact of milk production at farm level.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Milk; Life Cycle Assessment; Dairy farm; Biogas; Milking frequency
Elenco autori:
J. Bacenetti, L. Bava, M. Zucali, D. Lovarelli, A. Sandrucci, A. Tamburini, M. Fiala
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