Reducing gaseous losses of nitrogen from cattle slurry applied to grassland by the use of additives

Abstract

Losses of nitrogen ( N ) through ammonia (NH,) volatilisation and denitrification were determined following the application of cattle slurry to grassland in autumn or spring. Denitrification was examined on two contrasting soils. A system of small wind tunnels was used to measure N H , loss and an acetylene inhibition technique for denitrification. Between 31 and 84 % of the ammonium N (NH:-N) applied in slurry was lost through N H , volatilisation. Acidifying the slurry to pH c 5.5 prior to application reduced these losses to between 14 and 57%. On a ji-eely drained loam soil, denitrification j?om unacidified slurry applied in the autumn at 80 m3 ha-' was continuous throughout the winter, with the maximum rate of 0-91 kg N ha-' day-' occurring a few weeks after slurry application. The total denitrification losses were equivalent to about 29 % of the NH:-N applied for this treatment and 41 % for the acidified slurry. The nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide reduced the amount of N lost through denitrification by 70 % when applied with the slurry at 25 kg ha-', by 55% at 20 kg ha-' and by 30 % at 15 kg ha-'. The nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin did not appreciably reduce denitrification. Denitrification losses were consistently small from slurry applied to the j-eely drained loam soil in spring, or to a poorly drained, silty clay in autumn or spring. Neither nitrification inhibitor was of benefit in these situations.

Closing the Global Energy and Nutrient Cycles through Application of Biogas Residue to Agricultural Land – Potential Benefits and Drawback

“…Moreover, the dry matter content of manure significantly affects NH 3 emission [107]. Specifically, higher emission is observed at elevated dry matter levels (i.e., from cattle than pig slurry) [108]. Misselbrook et al [105] suggested that the physical nature of dry matter content (fibrous vs. colloidal) is an important factor influencing the soil infiltration potential of slurries.…”

The Yield and Economical Efficiency by Application Methods of Liquid Pig Manure on Forage Crops

“…(Frost et al,, 1990;Pain et al, 1990), 용탈 및 유실 (Ishima et al, 1974;Xie and Mackenzie, 1986) Means by the same letter within a column are not significantly different at 0.05 probability level according to DMRT. …”

Liquid Cattle Manure Application to Soil and Its Effect on Crop Growth, Yield, Composition, and on Soil Properties

“…A significant amount of the ammoniacal N in LCM can be lost, as NH 3 by volatilization, shortly after LCM application to soils (Beauchamp et al, 1982;de Jonge et al, 2004;Pain et al, 1989;Pfluke et al, 2011aPfluke et al, , 2011bWebb et al, 2010). However, this depends on the properties of the LCM and soil, where manure is applied, and also on the rate, manner, timing of application and weather conditions and interactions among these factors (Beauchamp et al, 1982;Mannheim et al, 1995;Pain et al, 1990;Reijs et al, 2007;Rochette et al, 2006;Sorensen, 1998;Thompson et al, 1990aThompson et al, , 1990b. Soil incorporation of LCM, mainly by using injection techniques, seems to reduce NH 3 volatilization drastically and such techniques are now applicable not only to arable soils but also to grasslands, no-tillage and forest systems (Maguire et al, 2011a(Maguire et al, , 2011b.…”

“…Beauchamp (1986) found that on average the NH 4 -N was 53 % of the total N in LCM and 9 % in solid beef cattle manure. H o w e v e r , a h i g h a m o u n t o f t h i s N H 4 -N can be lost through NH 3 volatilization or immobilized after LCM addition to soil (Burger & Venterea, 2008;Pain et al, 1990;Sorensen & Jensen, 1995). The organically bound N in LCM is expected to mineralize slowly and provide less plant available N than solid cattle manure (Burger & Venterea, 2008).…”

“…Ammonia volatilization usually occurs within a short period, after LCM surface application to soil, ranging from a few hours to a few days, with the greatest NH 3 emissions occurring within a few hours after application (Beauchamp et al, 1982;de Jonge et al, 2004;Pain et al, 1989;Pfluke et al, 2011aPfluke et al, , 2011bWebb et al, 2010). At this stage, N transformations and losses depend not only on the properties, storage conditions and treatments during storage of the LCM, but also depend on soil characteristics, the rate, manner and timing of LCM application to soils, the weather conditions and the interactions of these factors (Beauchamp et al, 1982;Mannheim et al, 1995;Pain et al, 1990;Reijs et al, 2007;Rochette et al, 2006;Sorensen, 1998;Thompson et al, 1990aThompson et al, , 1990b.…”