The increase of probability and depth of weather anomalies, which is important characteristic of climate change process, leads to higher risk of loss of perennial grasses forage yield, rise of price volatility on fora...The increase of probability and depth of weather anomalies, which is important characteristic of climate change process, leads to higher risk of loss of perennial grasses forage yield, rise of price volatility on forage grain market. Increase of sustainability of dairy production supposes development of adapted to new weather conditions technologies of forage production, which are characterized by different investment and current costs. It generates a need of economic evaluation and comparative analysis of technologies taking into account climate change forecast and need of sustainable forage production guarantee. Purpose of the research project is the development of approaches to assessing adaptive technologies in forage production, increasing of dairy farming sustainability to changes in the external environment, including climate change. We assessed changes in forage production technologies in the Leningrad region of Russia, analyzed the implications of these changes for production and financial performance of dairy farming, proposed and tested methods for determination of the optimum harvesting time of perennial grasses. Special attention is paid to the long-term effects of changing the structure of cows＇ diet--shortening the productive use of animals, which reduces the efficiency of dairy herd use and limits the possibility of expanded reproduction. The primary method of the study is the analysis of milk production statistics in the Leningrad region and the Russian Federation. As a result of the study, the necessity to improve the production and investment planning quality, as well as the use of forecasts during planning of dairy production, is grounded.展开更多
Cassava is currently being investigated for biogas production in South Africa as it offers multiple benefits such as high yields of starch and total dry matter. The chemical constituents of the cassava biomass were de...Cassava is currently being investigated for biogas production in South Africa as it offers multiple benefits such as high yields of starch and total dry matter. The chemical constituents of the cassava biomass were determined using standard methods. Using a locally fabricated laboratory batch fermenter, anaerobic digestion was carried out in a 25 L capacity digester maintained at 36 ± 0.5 ℃. Pre-treatment of the cassava biomass with spoilage fungi, Aspergillus niger and PeniciUium species yielded large amounts of fermentable sugars for digestion. Cassava slurry was made and mixed with zebra droppings （2：1 v/v） and loaded into the digester of 20 L working volume. Analysis results showed an increase in most nutrients after pretreatment except for starch which decreased from 76% to 60% as a result of its hydrolysis to fermentable sugars by the spoilage fungi. Theoretical biogas yields were between 0.71 nm3 and 0.75 nm^3 per kg VS （volatile solids） destroyed while the total biogas yields of between 250 nm^3 and 300 nm^3 per kg VS fed into the digester was obtained after 20 days residence time. Cassava is not yet a staple food in some BRICs countries like South Africa and the peels and other by-products of its processing are equally suitable for energy production. The use of cassava will be an alternative feedstock strategy for several rural biogas projects running with cow dungs inside South Africa. In addition, opportunities exist for decentralized, cheaper and socially advantageous bioenergy production from cassava considering that fuel and electricity needs are not satisfied in many rural areas. Finally, the incorporation of cassava anaerobic digestion facility at different scales will deliver additional benefits like the incorporation of nutrients and residual carbon into the land as fertilizer.展开更多
文摘The increase of probability and depth of weather anomalies, which is important characteristic of climate change process, leads to higher risk of loss of perennial grasses forage yield, rise of price volatility on forage grain market. Increase of sustainability of dairy production supposes development of adapted to new weather conditions technologies of forage production, which are characterized by different investment and current costs. It generates a need of economic evaluation and comparative analysis of technologies taking into account climate change forecast and need of sustainable forage production guarantee. Purpose of the research project is the development of approaches to assessing adaptive technologies in forage production, increasing of dairy farming sustainability to changes in the external environment, including climate change. We assessed changes in forage production technologies in the Leningrad region of Russia, analyzed the implications of these changes for production and financial performance of dairy farming, proposed and tested methods for determination of the optimum harvesting time of perennial grasses. Special attention is paid to the long-term effects of changing the structure of cows＇ diet--shortening the productive use of animals, which reduces the efficiency of dairy herd use and limits the possibility of expanded reproduction. The primary method of the study is the analysis of milk production statistics in the Leningrad region and the Russian Federation. As a result of the study, the necessity to improve the production and investment planning quality, as well as the use of forecasts during planning of dairy production, is grounded.
文摘Cassava is currently being investigated for biogas production in South Africa as it offers multiple benefits such as high yields of starch and total dry matter. The chemical constituents of the cassava biomass were determined using standard methods. Using a locally fabricated laboratory batch fermenter, anaerobic digestion was carried out in a 25 L capacity digester maintained at 36 ± 0.5 ℃. Pre-treatment of the cassava biomass with spoilage fungi, Aspergillus niger and PeniciUium species yielded large amounts of fermentable sugars for digestion. Cassava slurry was made and mixed with zebra droppings （2：1 v/v） and loaded into the digester of 20 L working volume. Analysis results showed an increase in most nutrients after pretreatment except for starch which decreased from 76% to 60% as a result of its hydrolysis to fermentable sugars by the spoilage fungi. Theoretical biogas yields were between 0.71 nm3 and 0.75 nm^3 per kg VS （volatile solids） destroyed while the total biogas yields of between 250 nm^3 and 300 nm^3 per kg VS fed into the digester was obtained after 20 days residence time. Cassava is not yet a staple food in some BRICs countries like South Africa and the peels and other by-products of its processing are equally suitable for energy production. The use of cassava will be an alternative feedstock strategy for several rural biogas projects running with cow dungs inside South Africa. In addition, opportunities exist for decentralized, cheaper and socially advantageous bioenergy production from cassava considering that fuel and electricity needs are not satisfied in many rural areas. Finally, the incorporation of cassava anaerobic digestion facility at different scales will deliver additional benefits like the incorporation of nutrients and residual carbon into the land as fertilizer.
