Seasonal Variation in Microbial Communities and Organic Malodor Indicator Compound Concentrations in Various Types of Swine Manure Storage Systems

Abstract

Anaerobic manure storage systems are one of the major contributors to the odor and environmental pollution associated with swine (Sus scrofa) production systems. The microbial ecology of manure storage systems and the relationships between microbial communities and odor production are largely unknown. In this study, we used community fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis to generate lipid profiles to assess seasonal differences among microbial communities inhabiting various types of outdoor swine manure storage systems. Concurrently, we measured manure concentrations of several malodor indicator compounds as well as pH, temperature, and solids content. Principal components analysis (PCA) showed that there are differences in FAME profiles among the swine manure storage systems examined and most of the variation was in the relative abundance of 18:0, 18:1omega7t, 18:1omega7c/omega9t/omega12t, and 16:1omega7t/i15:0 2OH FAMEs. The PCA of the FAME profiles revealed that the phototrophic systems were more similar to each other and that the nonphototrophic systems were more similar to each other than they were to phototrophic lagoons. There were seasonal changes in the FAME profiles in the phototrophic systems and the concrete nonphototrophic basin (CNPB), and in one phototrophic system, the FAME profiles more closely resembled a CNPB FAME profile during the winter than the other phototrophic lagoons. In the phototrophic lagoon systems, there was a direct correlation between the abundance of the FAMEs identified in the PCA and manure concentrations of phenol, p-cresol, and 4-ethyl phenol. In the CNPB, there was a negative correlation between the total phenolics concentration and the 18:1omega7t FAME. Our results indicate that community FAME profiles could be used as a diagnostic tool for obtaining preliminary evidence that management practices are altering the system's microbial community to one that favors less air pollution potential.

Temporal flux and spatial dynamics of nutrients, fecal indicators, and zoonotic pathogens in anaerobic swine manure lagoon water

“…2c), an observation also reported by Lovanh et al (2009) for an anaerobic lagoon in Kentucky. Although seasonal temperature ranges may differ from those reported for lagoons in other regions of the USA, the seasonal pattern reported in the present study is similar to those reported for swine lagoons in Iowa (Merrill and Halverson, 2002), Kansas (DeSutter and Ham, 2005), Kentucky (Cook et al, 2010), and North Carolina (Vanotti and Szogi, 2008). Correlations between air and lagoon temperatures and emissions of ammonia, greenhouse gasses, and malodorants have been widely studied, and it is generally agreed that lagoon water temperature is a significant factor in volatilization processes (Harper et al, 2000;DeSutter and Ham, 2005;Aneja et al, 2008;Blunden and Aneja, 2008;Blanes-Vidal et al, 2010;Loughrin et al, 2011).…”

Deodorization of pig manure using lignin peroxidase with different electron acceptors

“…As known, odors are a complex mixture of VFAs, phenolic and indolic compounds, amides, and sulfides (Zahn et al, 1997; Williams et al, 1981; Conn et al, 2007); therefore, it is not very accurate to choose one or two odorants as indicators of odors from pig manure. In this study, it was not confirmed that a significant decrease in the concentration of phenolic compounds was directly related to the decrease in odor intensity, but phenolic compounds were found to be the possible indicators of microbial community changes in pig manure storage systems (Merrill et al, 2002). NH 3 and H 2 S are not always the sensitive components in the odor from livestock manure, but they are tremendously hazardous (Heber et al, 2002;Schiffman et al, 2001); consequently, they are always used as important evaluating indicators for livestock manure odor.…”

Bacterial community dynamics during reduction of odorous compounds in aerated pig manure slurry

“…The problem of malodor is an important issue, and some investigations have been performed on the microbial community related to malodor emission in various types of biowastes (Merrill and Halverson 2002; Mayrhofer et al. 2006).…”