Estimation of emission factors of ammonia and greenhouse gases generated from composting manure of Korean beef

Abstract

Livestock farming is a significant sector in South Korea's agriculture, occupying a high proportion. With increasing specialization and scale, there's a rising trend of livestock manure leading to increased odor-related complaints. Among the primary odor-causing substances, ammonia stands out as a major contributor to fine dust pollution.Agriculture accounts for the highest proportion of total ammonia emissions in South Korea, with manure management being the largest contributor. Given that most livestock manure in the country is treated through composting, accurate evaluation and calculation of the emitted ammonia during composting are necessary. Additionally, greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide are also produced during composting.This study aims to measure and calculate the emissions of ammonia, methane, and nitrous oxide during composting of representative livestock manure, particularly from Hanwoo cattle, to provide fundamental data for future management of fine dust and greenhouse gases. The experiment was conducted at a composting facility in a Hanwoo cattle farm located in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, using a flux chamber. The measured emissions were notably higher compared to previous studies, likely due to the concentrated emission sources in the composting facility. Further comparisons by season and livestock species are warranted based on the findings of this study.