Effects of surface manure application timing on ammonia volatilization

Abstract

, T. 2001. Effects of surface manure application timing on ammonia volatilization. Can. J. Soil Sci. 81: 525-533. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of timing of application on ammonia (NH 3 ) volatilization from surface-applied dairy manure. Field trials were conducted over a 2-yr period (1994 and 1995) at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Farm in Nappan, Nova Scotia. A total of eight trials were performed in an attempt to characterize what effect the timing of application (morning vs. late afternoon/early evening) has on NH 3 volatilization losses. Ammonia losses were also related to several meteorological parameters. The total percentage of NH 3 volatilized in the 10 h following field spreading ranged from as low as < 2% to approximately 66%. Late-day spreading typically resulted in at least a 30% reduction in overall NH 3 flux densities, primarily due to substantial reductions in NH 3 losses occurring within the first 10 h after manure application. The positive benefits of late-day manure spreading were more pronounced during warm, dry weather conditions. Significant (P < 0.05) positive linear correlations were observed between NH 3 volatilization in the 10 h following spreading and solar radiation (r 2 = 0.56), wind speed (r 2 = 0.53), temperature (r 2 = 0.34) and vapour pressure deficit (r 2 = 0.53).Results from this study have indicated that late day manure spreading practices can substantially reduce NH 3 volatilization.Key words: Slurry, ammonia volatilization, dairy, manure application, timing Gordon, R., Jamieson, R., Rodd, V., Patterson, G. et Harz, T. 2001. Incidence du moment de l'épandage du fumier sur la vaporisation de l'ammoniac. Can. J. Soil Sci. 81: 525-533. L'étude devait établir si la vaporisation de l'ammoniac (NH 3 ) dépend du moment où l'on épand le fumier de bovins laitiers à la surface du sol. Les auteurs ont effectué des essais au champ pendant deux ans (1994 et 1995), à la ferme expérimentale d'Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada à Nappan, en Nouvelle-Écosse. En tout, huit essais ont servi à déterminer quels effets le moment de l'application (matin ou fin de l'après-midi/début de la soirée) pouvait avoir sur les pertes de NH 3 attribuables à la vaporisation. On a aussi associé ces pertes à divers paramètres météorologiques. La proportion de NH 3 qui s'évapore pendant les 10 h suivant l'épandage varie d'un minimum < 2 % à environ 66 %. L'application en fin de journée diminue la densité du flux de NH 3 d'au moins 30 %, principalement à cause d'une réduction importante des pertes de NH 3 durant les dix heures qui suivent l'épandage. Les bienfaits d'un épandage tardif sont plus prononcés par temps chaud et sec. Les auteurs ont établi une corrélation linéaire positive significative (P < 0,05) entre la vaporisation du NH 3 au cours des 10 h suivant l'épandage et le rayonnement solaire (r 2 = 0,56), la vitesse du vent (r 2 = 0,53), la température (r 2 = 0,34) et la différence de pression de vapeur (r 2 = 0,53). Les résultats de la recherche indiquent qu'...

Relative effects of anaerobically-digested and conventional liquid swine manure, and N fertilizer on crop yield and greenhouse gas emissions

“…Approximately 90% of intensive livestock operations in the prairie region store manure in liquid form in a holding tank or lagoon [1] until it can be land-applied. Considerable amounts of methane (CH 4 ) are emitted to the atmosphere during storage [2] and, while land application of liquid swine manure provides an effective source of nutrients for crop production [3], high ammonia (NH 3 ) volatilization rates can occur following application [4][5][6]. In addition, soil-emitted nitrous oxide can also be stimulated [7].…”

Comparison of three simple field methods for ammonia volatilization from manure

“…The majority of nitrogen (N) in swine manure is in the ammonium-nitrogen (NH 4 -N) form, which can convert to ammonianitrogen in the manure and volatilize during or after field application (Sommer et al 1995;Rana and Mastrorilli 1998;Ferm et al 1999;Gordon et al 2001;Sherlock et al 2002). Up to 90% of the NH 4 -N applied in slurry can be lost as a result of NH 3 volatilization (Ferm et al 1999;Sherlock et al 2002;Wulf et al 2002), substantially reducing the amount of plant-available N. This NH 3 loss to the atmosphere is a concern primarily because: (i) dry or wet deposition can result in water and land acidification, and eutrophication of terrestrial aquatic ecosystems, (ii) NH 3 can enhance aerosol formation and result in plant and animal health concerns, and (iii) NH 3 is also an indirect greenhouse gas (GHG), as it can oxidize into nitrous oxide (N 2 O).…”

Impact of chemically amended pig slurry on greenhouse gas emissions, soil properties and leachate

“…High NH 3 + volatilization may occur after land application of pig slurry, with over 60% of total losses occurring in the first 10 h after application (Gordon et al, 2001;Rochette et al, 2001). It would appear in the current study that a large amount of volatilization occurred from both amended and unamended slurry treatments with little unvolatilised inorganic N remaining, which is in agreement with previous studies (Morvan et al, 1997;Hoekstra et al, 2010;Hoekstra et al, 2011).…”