Production and reuse of waste in rural area with high density of greenhouse

• Main Authors: Giovanni Russo, Giuseppe Verdiani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAGEPress Publications 2013-09-01
• Series: Journal of Agricultural Engineering
• Subjects: agricultural waste, compost, environmental sustainability
• Online Access: http://www.agroengineering.org/index.php/jae/article/view/290

Agricultural activities cause the production of considerable amounts of waste sometimes dangerous that must be properly handled to avoid negative impacts on rural areas and on agroecosystems. The estimation of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of agricultural waste products and the capacity of rural land of transposing organic matter deriving from the processes of composting, is a key point for the planning and management of the waste integrated cycle. The aims of this study are the evaluation of the quantities of various types of agricultural waste on territorial scale, the amount of compost that can be used in rural areas affected by different cultures and the effectiveness of community composter in the treatment of vegetable agricultural waste for the production of green composted soil. These assessments were carried out in an area of study characterized by a high spatial density of greenhouses. The methodological procedure used is based on the use of agricultural waste production coefficients and maximum application rates of compost for cultivation. The results show the role and potential of the agricultural areas in the waste cycle from production to the potential reuse of recovered material.