Management strategies to simultaneously reduce ammonia, nitrous oxide and odour emissions from surface-applied swine manure

Citation

Smith, E., Gordon, R., Bourque, C., Campbell, A. (2008). Management strategies to simultaneously reduce ammonia, nitrous oxide and odour emissions from surface-applied swine manure. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, [online] 88(4), 571-584. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/CJSS07089

Abstract

Surface-applied swine manure has the potential to generate ammonia (NH 3), nitrous oxide (N2O) and odour. Field research was conducted in Prince Edward Island to measure the simultaneous emissions of NH3, N2O and odour following the surface-application of swine manure. Manure was applied to a grain stubble field consisting of a sandy loam soil low in pH (5.6-5.9). The effect of manure type (liquid and solid), application rate [conventional/typical rate (1x): 30 000-36 000 L ha -1, double (2x): 60 000-72 000 L ha-1 and five times (5x): 180 000 L ha-1] and rainfall (8-200 mm) before and after liquid manure application were examined. There was no relationship between odour emissions and manure type, application rate and rainfall before and after spreading, due to high variability. Liquid manure (dry matter (DM = 45 g kg -1) reduced NH3 emissions by 32% compared with solid (DM = 350 g kg-1). Increasing application rates enhanced NH3 emissions; increasing the rate by 2 x and 5 x the typical rate increased losses by 62 and 78%, respectively. Applying manure prior to rainfall reduced NH 3 emissions by 37%, compared with application after a rainfall. Ammonia and odour emissions were similarly correlated to atmospheric conditions with increased emissions at higher air and soil temperature, net radiation, vapour pressure deficit and windspeed. Nitrous oxide emissions were low in magnitude and showed no correlation to climatic conditions, suggesting that management strategies to reduce both odour and NH3 did not enhance N2O emissions when applied to a moderately acidic soil with low levels of soil nitrate (<5 mg N kg-1). Our results indicate that for conditions similar to those in this study, there is no trade-off between NH3 and N2O production and more attention should be placed on controlling and reducing odour and NH3 emissions.

Publication date

2008-01-01

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