Horticulture and Orchards as New Markets for Manure Valorisation with Less Environmental Impacts

David Fangueiro, Paula Alvarenga and Rita Fragoso
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David Fangueiro: Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food—LEAF Research Unit, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Paula Alvarenga: Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food—LEAF Research Unit, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Rita Fragoso: Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food—LEAF Research Unit, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-28

Abstract: Animal manure management is a real challenge to minimize environmental impacts and ensure that this valuable material is efficiently used in a circular economy context. One of the main limitations for larger use of animal manure as fertilizer is the availability of land to receive it in an area close to the farm. Indeed, animal manure is traditionally used for cereals and animal feed growth, but the soil area occupied with these crops might not be enough to receive all the manure produced and/or part of this soil might have nutrient contents, namely phosphorous, that do not permit further application of manure. Hence, extra land used for other agricultural activities might be an option. The main objective of the present review was to analyse the constraints and solutions to increase the use of manure in horticulture and orchards. Emphasis was given to the legal framework for manure utilization in the EU that might stimulate or restrain such a solution. The main characteristics of manure that might limit or stimulate manure reuse were also described, and the potential of some treatments to valorise manure was analysed. Several examples of alternative uses of manure in horticulture and orchards were examined, and the society and farmers’ acceptance of the proposed solution was addressed.

Keywords: organic fertilizer; pathogens; ammonia; greenhouse gases; water contamination; farmers’ acceptance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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