Volatilization of ammonia from urea applied to soil: Influence of hippuric acid and other constituents of livestock urine

Whitehead, David; Lockyer, D. R.; Raistrick, N.

doi:10.1016/0038-0717(89)90174-0

Cited by 72 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Urea alone was added rather than artificial cattle urine, since we wanted to avoid the interference from turnover of organic constituents in the urine (Bristow et al, 1992). The absence of hippuric acid probably delayed urea hydrolysis in the soil (Whitehead et al, 1989), thereby dampening the initial increase in pH (Sherlock and Goh, 1984;Somda et al, 1997), as well as the osmotic down-shock. Thus, it is likely that any stresses imposed on soil organisms would be as great or greater in a pasture after deposition of cattle urine.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term nitrous oxide emissions from pasture soil as influenced by urea level and soil nitrate

Petersen¹,

Stamatiadis²,

Christofides³

2004

Plant Soil

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Nitrogen excreted by cattle during grazing is a significant source of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N 2 O). The regulation of N 2 O emissions is not well understood, but may vary with urine composition and soil conditions. This laboratory study was undertaken to describe short-term effects on N 2 O emissions and soil conditions, including microbial dynamics, of urea amendment at two different rates (22 and 43 g N m −2 ). The lower urea concentration was also combined with an elevated soil NO , pH, electrical conductivity and dissolved organic C were quantified. Microbial dynamics were followed by measurements of CO 2 evolution, by analyses of membrane lipid (PLFA) composition, and by measurement of potential ammonium oxidation and denitrifying enzyme activity. The total recovery of 15 N averaged 84%. Conversion of urea-N to NO − 3 was evident, but nitrification was delayed at the highest urea concentration and was accompanied by an accumulation of NO − 2 . Nitrous oxide emissions were also delayed at the highest urea amendment level, but accelerated towards the end of the study. The pH interacted with NH + 4 to produce inhibitory concentrations of NH 3 (aq) at the highest urea concentration, and there was evidence for transient negative effects of urea amendment on both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria in this treatment. However, PLFA dynamics indicated that initial inhibitory effects were replaced by increased microbial activity and net growth. It is concluded that urea-N level has qualitative, as well as quantitative effects on soil N transformations in urine patches.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term nitrous oxide emissions from pasture soil as influenced by urea level and soil nitrate

Petersen¹,

Stamatiadis²,

Christofides³

2004

Plant Soil

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“…Enclosure measurements of NH 3 volatilization from single urine patches indicate that NH 3 losses may range from 4% to 52% of the urine N, whereas field studies indicate that 3% to 15% of total excretal N is lost via NH 3 volatilization, depending on the urinary N composition, soil type, moisture, temperature and wind speed (Oenema et al, 2008). Whitehead et al (1989) showed that NH 3 volatilization from the five major components of urine decreased in the order urea . allantoin .…”

Section: Urinary N As Source Of N 2 O Emissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet effects on urine composition of cattle and N2O emissions

Dijkstra

Oenema

Groenigen

et al. 2013

Animal

312

215

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Ruminant production contributes to emissions of nitrogen (N) to the environment, principally ammonia (NH 3 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and di-nitrogen (N 2 ) to air, nitrate (NO 3 2 ) to groundwater and particulate N to surface waters. Variation in dietary N intake will particularly affect excretion of urinary N, which is much more vulnerable to losses than is faecal N. Our objective is to review dietary effects on the level and form of N excreted in cattle urine, as well as its consequences for emissions of N 2 O. The quantity of N excreted in urine varies widely. Urinary N excretion, in particular that of urea N, is decreased upon reduction of dietary N intake or an increase in the supply of energy to the rumen microorganisms and to the host animal itself. Most of the N in urine (from 50% to well over 90%) is present in the form of urea. Other nitrogenous components include purine derivatives (PD), hippuric acid, creatine and creatinine. Excretion of PD is related to rumen microbial protein synthesis, and that of hippuric acid to dietary concentration of degradable phenolic acids. The N concentration of cattle urine ranges from 3 to 20 g/l. High-dietary mineral levels increase urine volume and lead to reduced urinary N concentration as well as reduced urea concentration in plasma and milk. In lactating dairy cattle, variation in urine volume affects the relationship between milk urea and urinary N excretion, which hampers the use of milk urea as an accurate indicator of urinary N excretion. Following its deposition in pastures or in animal houses, ubiquitous microorganisms in soil and waters transform urinary N components into ammonium (NH 4 1 ), and thereafter into NO 3 2 and ultimately in N 2 accompanied with the release of N 2 O. Urinary hippuric acid, creatine and creatinine decompose more slowly than urea. Hippuric acid may act as a natural inhibitor of N 2 O emissions, but inhibition conditions have not been defined properly yet. Environmental and soil conditions at the site of urine deposition or manure application strongly influence N 2 O release. Major dietary strategies to mitigating N 2 O emission from cattle operations include reducing dietary N content or increasing energy content, and increasing dietary mineral content to increase urine volume. For further reduction of N 2 O emission, an integrated animal nutrition and excreta management approach is required.Keywords: nitrogen, urine, cattle, nitrous oxide, mitigation ImplicationsCattle contribute to global warming through emission of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) from urine and faeces. Urinary nitrogen (N) is much more susceptible to gaseous losses than faecal N. To reduce urinary N excretion and N 2 O emission and improve N efficiency of cattle, dietary levels of N should be decreased and an optimal balance between N and energy substrates in the diet should be aimed at. Increasing urine volume by increased dietary mineral contents appears a promising N 2 O mitigation strategy, particularly in pasture. Further reduction of effective mitigation strategies...

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“…When urine urea is added to the soil, its enzymatic hydrolysis by urease is more rapid than that of pure urea under similar conditions (Sherlock & Goh 1984). The major reason for this is that hippuric acid, a minor nitrogenous constituent of animal urine, has a stimulatory effect on urea hydrolysis (Whitehead et al 1989). The high pH of urine (8.6) would also directly favour the hydrolysis of urea (Sherlock & Goh 1984) because this is the optimum pH for urease activity (Vlek et al 1980).…”

Section: Emission From Excretal Depositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of emissions of methane, ammonia, and nitrous oxide from animal excreta deposition and farm effluent application in grazed pastures

Saggar

Bolan

Bhandral

et al. 2004

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

210

148

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In pastoral soils, NH 3 and N 2 O gases are generated from N originating from dung, urine, biologically fixed N 2 , and fertiliser. The amount of these gaseous emissions depends on complex interactions between soil properties, climatic factors, and agricultural practices. In this review paper, the animal-excretal inputs and farm-effluent applications to New Zealand pastures are quantified. Data from overseas and New Zealand studies on CH 4 , NH 3 , and N 2 O emissions from excretal deposition and animal effluents, and the factors affecting these emissions, are synthesised with an aim to improve the New Zealand estimates of emissions from these sources. The practical implications of these emissions are described in relation to environmental impacts and management strategies for reducing these emissions.Keywords ammonia; best management practices; effluent; grazed pasture; manure slurry; methane; nitrous oxide Abstract The agricultural sector in New Zealand is the major contributor to ammonia (NH 3 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), and methane (CH 4 ) emissions to the atmosphere. These gases cause environmental degradation through their effects on soil acidification, eutrophication, and stratospheric ozone depletion. With its strong agricultural base and relatively low level of heavy industrial activity, New Zealand is unique in having a greenhouse-gas-emissions inventory dominated by the agricultural trace gases, CH 4 and N 2 O, instead of carbon dioxide which dominates in most other countries. About 96% of this anthropogenic CH 4 is emitted by ruminant animals as a byproduct during the process of enteric fermentation. Methane is also produced by anaerobic fermentation of animal manure and many other organic substrates.

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Volatilization of ammonia from urea applied to soil: Influence of hippuric acid and other constituents of livestock urine

Cited by 72 publications

References 16 publications

Short-term nitrous oxide emissions from pasture soil as influenced by urea level and soil nitrate

Short-term nitrous oxide emissions from pasture soil as influenced by urea level and soil nitrate

Diet effects on urine composition of cattle and N2O emissions

A review of emissions of methane, ammonia, and nitrous oxide from animal excreta deposition and farm effluent application in grazed pastures

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