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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Net greenhouse gas emissions from manure management using anaerobic digestion technology in a beef cattle feedlot in Brazil

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Author(s):
Costa Junior, Ciniro [1] ; Cerri, Carlos E. P. [2] ; Pires, Alexandre V. [3] ; Cerri, Carlos C. [1]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Nucl Energy Agr, Lab Biogeochem, BR-13416000 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Soil Sci, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz De Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Anim Sci, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: Science of The Total Environment; v. 505, p. 1018-1025, FEB 1 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 8
Abstract

As part of an agreement during the COP15, the Brazilian government is fostering several activities intended to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One of them is the adoption of anaerobic digester (AD) for treating animal manure. Due to a lack of information, we developed a case study in order to evaluate the effect of such initiative for beef cattle feedlots. We considered the net GHG emissions (CH4 and N2O) from the manure generated from 140 beef heifers confined for 90 days in the scope ``housing to field application{''} by including field measurements, literature values, and the offset generated by the AD system through the replacement of conventional sources of nitrogen (N) fertilizer and electricity, respectively. Results showed that direct GHG emissions accounted for 0.14 +/- 0.06 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO(2)eq) per kg of animal live weight gain (lwg), with similar to 80% originating from field application, suggesting that this emission does not differ from the conventional manure management (without AD) typically done in Brazil (0.19 +/- 0.07 kg of CO(2)eq per kg Iwg(-1)). However, 2.4 MWh and 658.0 kg of N-manure were estimated to be generated as a consequence of the AD utilization, potentially offsetting 0.13 +/- 0.01 kg of CO2eq kg lwg(-1) or 95% (45%) of total direct emissions from the manure management. Although, by replacing fossil fuel sources, i.e. diesel oil, this offset could be increased to 169% (+/- 47%). In summary, the AD has the potential to significantly mitigate GHG emissions from manure management in beef cattle feedlots, but the effect is indirect and highly dependent on the source to be replaced. In spite of the promising results, more and continuous field measurements for decreasing uncertainties and improving assumptions are required. Identifying shortcomings would be useful not only for the effectiveness of the Brazilian government but also for worldwide plans in mitigating GHG emissions from beef production systems. (C) 2014 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 10/05111-7 - Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from the beef cattle feedlot manure management in Brazil: surveying, measuring and modeling
Grantee:Ciniro Costa Junior
Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 12/02642-7 - Simulation of greenhouse gas emissions and mitigations by Brazilian beef cattle feedlot manure management using Manure-DNDC mathematic model
Grantee:Ciniro Costa Junior
Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 10/17837-2 - Greenhouse gases balance of cattle breeding activity in the Middle-West Region of Brazil: technical bases for a low carbon husbandry
Grantee:Carlos Clemente Cerri
Support type: Regular Research Grants