Ammonia emissions from land-applied beef cattle manure

Abstract

McGinn, S. M. and Sommer, S. G. 2007. Ammonia emissions from land-applied beef cattle manure. Can. J. Soil Sci. 87: [345][346][347][348][349][350][351][352] ) is emitted in vast quantities from exposed livestock manure. The volatilisation of NH 3 from livestock manure is a loss in valuable nitrogen in land-applied manure that could otherwise be used for crop production. Ammonia loss to air is also affiliated with environmental problems when it is deposited to the surrounding landscape. The goal of this study was to quantify the effect of managing beef cattle manure on NH 3 emissions of land-applied manure. Three trials were conducted where beef feedlot manure was applied. The NH 3 losses were measured from field plots (90 or 160 m 2 ) using acid traps (passive flux samplers). Immediately after applying manure, irrigating with 6 mm of water reduced NH 3 loss by 21-52% while tillage (to 15 cm depth) reduced the loss by 76-85% compared with leaving the manure spread on the soil surface. Piled manure that was applied to the land lost 27% less NH 3 than did manure taken directly from the pen. There was little NH 3 lost from compost that was applied to land since the applied available-N was very low relative to the pen and piled manure. Our study shows that management of livestock manure has a direct impact on NH 3 loss to air. It follows that significant reduction in NH 3 volatilisation can benefit agriculture and reduce agriculture's impact on the environment. . La sublimation du NH 3 présent dans le fumier épandu sur les terres entraîne la perte d'un azote précieux pour les productions végétales. Le passage de l'ammoniac dans l'air suscite aussi des problèmes environnementaux quand le gaz se dépose sur le relief environnant. L'étude devait quantifier l'incidence des pratiques de gestion sur les émissions de NH 3 après épandage du fumier. Pour cela, les auteurs ont effectué trois expériences durant lesquelles ils ont épandu du fumier de bovins. Ils ont mesuré les pertes de NH 3 sur des parcelles de 90 ou 160 m 2 au moyen de capteurs d'acide (échantillonneurs passifs de flux). L'irrigation de 6 mm d'eau immédiate-ment après l'épandage réduit les pertes de NH 3 de 21 à 52 % alors que le travail du sol (15 cm de profondeur) les diminue de 76 à 85 %, comparativement à ce qu'on observe quand on laisse le fumier à la surface du sol. Le fumier gardé en tas perd 27 % moins de NH 3 que celui prélevé directement des enclos au moment de l'épandage. Le compost répandu sur le sol perd peu de NH 3 car il contient très peu de N disponible comparativement au fumier venant des enclos ou d'un tas. L'étude indique que la méthode de gestion a une incidence directe sur les pertes de NH 3 dans l'air. Il s'ensuit qu'une diminution sensible de la sublimation du NH 3 présenterait un avantage certain pour l'agriculture tout en atténuant l'impact des pratiques agricoles sur l'environnement.

The molecular processes of urea hydrolysis in relation to ammonia emissions from agriculture

“…The ammonia emission rate from fields fertilized with manure slurry peaks within the first 24 h after applying the manure slurry in the field. This is probably because the volatile ammonia is already present in the manure slurry when it is applied to the field (Huijsmans et al 2001;McGinn and Sommer 2007;Rochette et al 2009;Salazar et al 2014). In contrast, the ammonia emission rate from the fields applied with synthetic urea fertilizer is more variable, and the maximum rate is not reached before 48 h to 12 days after fertilizing the field, as urea must first be hydrolyzed by the microbial urease present in the soil (Rochette et al 2009;Salazar et al 2014).…”

Mitigation of ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane emissions from manure management chains: a meta‐analysis and integrated assessment

“…However, CH 4 emissions from heaps of solid manure with these alternative management measures are also (very) low, in case air temperature is relatively low (e.g. However, the mechanism behind the stockpiling-induced increase in N 2 O emission has not been well-studied and therefore requires further research (McGinn & Sommer, 2007;Sagoo et al, 2007;Shah et al, 2012). This indicates that measures to mitigate CH 4 emissions from manure heaps should be especially implemented during warm seasons.…”

“…5b). However, the mechanism behind the stockpiling-induced increase in N 2 O emission has not been well-studied and therefore requires further research (McGinn & Sommer, 2007;Sagoo et al, 2007;Shah et al, 2012).…”

Measurement of ammonia volatilization loss using a dynamic chamber technique: A case study of surface-incorporated manure and ammonium sulfate in an upland field of light-colored Andosol

“…Therefore, fermented manure has a smaller potential for NH 3 volatilization than fresh manure. For example, McGinn and Sommer (2007) reported that the NH 3 volatilization losses following surface applications of fresh manure and compost of beef cattle were 5.7% and 0.2% of the applied T‐N, respectively. According to McGinn and Sommer (2007), the very small loss of 0.2% of applied T‐N resulted from the application of compost with a rate of 27.7 Mg fresh weight ha −1 .…”

“…For example, McGinn and Sommer (2007) reported that the NH 3 volatilization losses following surface applications of fresh manure and compost of beef cattle were 5.7% and 0.2% of the applied T‐N, respectively. According to McGinn and Sommer (2007), the very small loss of 0.2% of applied T‐N resulted from the application of compost with a rate of 27.7 Mg fresh weight ha −1 . Thus, it is inferred that changes in NH 3 volatilization loss would be small if the low application rates of manure in the present study, corresponding to 2.4–5.2 Mg fresh weight ha −1 , were increased to those of actual upland cropping (e.g.…”