Effective dairy farm waste management for sustainable integrated farming system

Abstract

The current agricultural system in India is grappling with the dual challenges of production pressure and sustainability concerns over resources needed to feed the country's 1.4 billion people. Each product in any field has its own production cycle; similarly, all agricultural products have their cycle, and waste generation is a common phenomenon at the end of the production chain. The
dairy industry generates a variety of wastes from the beginning to the end of their management, which can be categorized into major solid and liquid wastes. Solids constitute mainly leftover feed, bedding, and faeces, while liquids constitute urine and water used for cleaning. Dairy wastes are generally organic in nature, have a high carbon content, and contain multiple nutrients. The nutrient richness makes it very vulnerable to losses, which may have several consequences for the environment. Understanding the stages of waste generation and timely management is critical for utilizing it efficiently. Simultaneously, the process prevents leaching losses, gaseous emissions, and any other pathogenicity, thereby enhancing its environmental friendliness. Therefore, it is crucial to manage dairy farm wastes efficiently, understanding their importance as nutrient resources and potential losses if not managed properly.