Ammonia emissions from untreated, separated and digested cattle slurry – Effects of slurry type and application strategy on a Swedish clay soil

Abstract

Animal slurry contains plant nutrients such as nitrogen (N) that are essential for crop production. Inorganic slurry N is easily volatilised as ammonia after field application, reducing slurry fertiliser value and causing environmental problems. Ammonia emissions can be reduced by lowering slurry pH, rapid infiltration or incorporation of slurry into soil. This study investigated the effect of different combinations of slurry types and application strategies on ammonia emissions. The slurry types tested were untreated cattle slurry (CS), the liquid fraction from mechanical solid–liquid separation of cattle slurry (LF) and biogas digestate based mainly on cattle slurry (BD). The application strategies tested were trailing hoses, trailing shoes, trailing hose application of acidified slurry and slurry injection. Ammonia emissions after slurry application were measured using wind tunnels, with continuous measurements of ammonia concentrations in outgoing air. Comparisons were also made between measured ammonia emissions and emissions predicted by the ALFAM2 model. Cumulative ammonia emissions after 70 h from LF, CS and BD represented 23%, 29% and 32% of total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) applied. Trailing shoes and 50 mm deep injection slots reduced ammonia emissions by on average 17% and 37%, respectively, compared with trailing hoses. Slurry acidification resulted in an average reduction in ammonia emissions of 83%. The ALFAM2 model was reasonably accurate in predicting cumulative emissions (70 h). Accuracy in predicting emission dynamics was low in some cases, likely due to differences between wind tunnel measurements and open-air emissions and to model error.

Topics & Concepts