Blue and Grey Water Footprints of Dairy Farms in Kuwait

• 作者: Mariam Al-Bahouh Mike Dixon Robert Gordon Tom Wright Vern Osborne
• 来源期刊: 水资源与保护(英文)
• 学科: 地球科学
• 关键词: KUWAIT Blue Water Footprint Grey Water Footprint Fat Protein Corrected Milk Dairy Farming System
• 年，卷（期）: 2020,（7）
• 页码范围: 618-635
• 页数: 18页
• 分类号: X70

摘要

In Kuwait, dairy farming faces challenges due to its significant water demands. The current study assessed seasonal patterns of water use to estimate the blue water footprint (WF) and grey WF per kg of fat protein corrected milk (FPCM) for confined dairy farming systems in Kuwait. Blue and grey WFs were evaluated using data from three operational farms. The average blue WF (L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg^-1 FPCM) was estimated to be 54.5 ± 4.0 L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg^-1 in summer and 19.2 ± 0.8 L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg^-1 in winter. The average grey WF (generated from milk house wastewater) was assessed on bimonthly basis and determined based on its phosphate (PO4) concentration (82.2 ± 14.3 mg<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>L^-1) which is the most limiting factor to be 23.0 ± 9.0 L<span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span>kg^-1 FPCM d^-1. The outcomes indicate that enhancing the performance of dairy cows and adopting alternative water management strategies can play a role in minimizing the impacts of confined dairy farming systems in Kuwait on water quality and quantity.