Experience of distribution of pig slurry solid fraction in slope vineyard in Northern Italy

Agriculture in developed countries is getting more and more specialized. This is the way to reduce costs and keep agriculture activities economically competitive in global context. Specialization leads some agriculture production and activity to prevail on other in limited and specific areas that economists and politicians call "districts", that are often not functionally connected each other and have impact on environment, and human and social activities. In northern part of Italy, in Piedmont region, there are 2 important agricultural specialized production areas: the "wine district" on the hilly dry part of the region and the "animal husbandry district", with pig and cattle farms, on flat well-watered part of the region. In vineyards, since many years, we have seen a progressive impoverishment of organic matter in their soils. On the other hand land application of slurry and manure from livestock farms is recognized responsible of indiscriminate nitrogen contamination of surface and deep water. An experience of integrated animal organic waste management is running on farms 40 km a part: the solid fraction separated from pig slurry rich in organic nitrogen and organic matter is transported and spread as organic fertilizer in vineyards. Paper reports logistical and economical aspects of the integrated strategy for the management of the organic animal wastes. Special attention is given to design specific machines to manage and spread the separated fraction in slope vineyards. Paper report also physical and chemical characteristics of soil and separated solid fraction. The aim of this "peer to peer" project is to demonstrate that connections between very different specialized agriculture production areas can contribute to solve environmental problems and be cost-effective at the same time.