Ammonia Volatilization from Wet Animal Manures

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Ammonia Volatilization from Wet Animal Manures

• C.W. Wood, J.J. Meisinger, P.A. Moore, Jr., and
  R.B. Thompson
• Auburn University, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD and
  Fayetteville, AR

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I. Problems With NH3 Volatilization

• Acid Atmospheric Deposition
• raises pH of rainwater, more SO2 dissolves
• ammonium sulfate forms - oxidizes soil
• releases sulfuric nitric acid
• Eutrophication
• water and land
• Loss of N to farmers
• Lowers NP

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II. Sources of NH3 on Livestock Farms

• Manure Application
• Animal Housing
• Manure Storage
• Grazing
• Fertilizer Application
• Crops

Descending Order of Importance
Bussink Oenema, 1998
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III. Nature and Handling
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Loehr, 1974
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Travelling Gun
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Tank Spreaders
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IV. Factors Affecting NH3 Volatilization From
Liquid Manures

• A. Time

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Pig Slurry New Zealand 368 kg N/ha applied
15.5 of NH4-N
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IV. Factors Affecting NH3 Volatilization From
Liquid Manures

• B. Those That Affect Transfer of Gas Between Soil
  Solution and the Atmosphere

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Solution/Atmosphere Interface

• Mattila (1998) - cattle slurry - 0 NH3v with
  injection band lt broadcast
• Sommer and Ersboll (1994) - cattle and swine
  slurry- NH3v from injected slurry in tilled soil
  was 30 of that from unworked soil harrowing
  before surface application reduced NH3v by 50
• Sharpe Harper (1997) - swine effluent -13 of
  TAN lost via spray drift, 69 more after settling

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Solution/Atmosphere Interface

• Sommer et al. (1997) - pig slurry - trail hose
  application resulted in 1/2 TAN loss of splash
  plate application trail hose more effective
  under large plant canopy and low solar radiation

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Air Velocity

• Sommer et al. (1991) - cattle slurry
• NH3v rate increased to 2.5 m/sec no change
  between 2.5 and 4 m/sec
• crust formation with increased wind speed may
  increase liquid phase resistance

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Rainfall/Soil Moisture

• Beauchamp et al. (1982) - cattle slurry
• rainfall depressed volatilization temporarily
• difficult to distinguish from effect of
  temperature (rainfall lower temperature)
• may leach soluble ammoniacal N into soil
• Sommer et al. (1991) - cattle slurry
• frozen soil prevented infiltration
• NH3v rate low, but constant - 6-day cumulative
  loss high

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IV. Factors Affecting NH3 Volatilization From
Liquid Manures

• C. Those That Affect Rate of Chemical Reaction

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ammoniacal N
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Basic Chemistry
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Swine Waste TAN
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Cattle Waste TAN
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Poultry Waste TAN
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ammoniacal N

• Brunke et al. (1988) - surface applied swine and
  dairy slurries
• linear relationship between ammonia
  volatilization and ammoniacal N
• Frost (1994) - surface applied cattle slurry
• amount of dilution water added was linearly and
  inversely related to volatilization
• dilution of 0.9-1.21 waterslurry lowered
  specific volatilization/unit slurry by 50

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ammoniacal N

• Stevens et al. (1992) - surface applied cattle
  slurry
• 50 decrease with separation through 10-mm mesh
  plus dilution with 86 by volume of water
• 75 decrease with separation through 5-mm mesh
  plus dilution with 100 by volume of water

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Temperature
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Micro-meteorological studies

• Two applications to arable land (corn stubble)

• April/May 97
• 38 m3 ha-1
• 51 kg NH4-N ha-1

• December 96
• 88 m3 ha-1
• 91 kg NH4-N ha-1

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Ammonia Loss from Cattle Slurry applied 30 April

• rate 38 m3 ha-1,
• applied to corn stubble

• measured with MM

Total 8 day loss 71 of NH4-N
Rate NH3 loss (gN ha-1 hr-1)
Air temp
hours
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Ammonia Loss from Cattle Slurry applied 5 December

• rate 88 m3 ha-1,
• applied to corn stubble

• measured with MM

Total loss 19 of NH4-N
26 mm RF
Rate NH3 loss (gN ha-1 hr-1)
11 mm RF

Air temp
hours
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pH
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AR swine manure 150 kg N/ha
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AR swine manure 150 kg N/ha AlCl3 0-0.75v
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AR swine manure 150 kg N/ha AlCl3 0-0.75v
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Other Factors

• Soil CEC - minimum of 25 meq/100 g (Sharpe
  Harper, 1995)
• Soil pH
• Atmospheric NH3
• Plant absorption

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Summary

• NH3 volatilization causes environmental problems
  and economic losses to farmers
• NH3 volatilization from liquid animal manures is
  fast
• Exposure to the soil surface enhances NH3
  volatilization from liquid animal manures
• Environmental factors have a large influence
• ammoniacal-N probably has the greatest
  influence
• Dilution and acidification can help control NH3
  volatilization from surface applied wet animal
  manures

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Research Needs

• A coordinated research program is needed on NH3v
  from wet manures that encompasses a wide range of
  manures, weather conditions, and soil-tillage
  systems. Databases developed from such a research
  program would contribute to improved estimates of
  NH3v and improved management techniques for wet
  manures.
• Research should include a continuum from source
  to atmosphere.