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Emissions of CH4, N2O, NH3 and odorants from pig slurry during winter and summer storage

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Abstract

Manure storage contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG), NH3 and odour emissions from intensive livestock production. A pilot-scale facility with eight 6.5-m3 slurry storage units was used to quantify emissions of CH4, N2O, NH3, and odorants from pig slurry during winter and summer storage. Pig slurry was stored with or without a straw crust, and with or without interception of precipitation, i.e., four treatments, in two randomized blocks. Emissions of total reduced S (mainly H2S) and p-cresol, but not skatole, were reduced by the straw crust. Total GHG emissions were 0.01–0.02 kg CO2 eq m−3 day−1 during a 45-day winter storage, and 1.1–1.3 kg CO2 eq m−3 day−1 during a 58-day summer storage period independent of storage conditions; the GHG balance was dominated by CH4 emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions occurred only during summer storage where, apparently, emissions were related to the water balance of the surface crust. An N2O emission factor for slurry storage with a straw crust was estimated at 0.002–0.004. There was no evidence for a reduction of CH4 emissions with a crust. Current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommendations for N2O and CH4 emission factors are discussed.

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Abbreviations

VS:

Volatile solids

TRS:

Total reduced sulphur

TN:

Total nitrogen

TAN:

Total ammoniacal nitrogen

GWP:

Global warming potential

GHG:

Greenhouse gas

−P−S:

No precipitation, no straw crust

−P+S:

No precipitation, straw crust present

+P−S:

With precipitation, no straw crust

+P+S:

With precipitation, straw crust present

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Acknowledgments

The skilled technical assistance of Claudia Nagy, Bodil Steensgaard, Karin Dyrberg and Morten Skov is greatly appreciated. This study was supported by the Danish Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (VMP3-STOP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, P.O. Box 50, 8830, Tjele, Denmark

    Søren O. Petersen & Jørgen Eriksen

  2. DEIAFA, University of Turin, Via L da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy

    Nadia Dorno

  3. Department Life Science, Danish Technological Institute, Kongsvang Allé 29, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark

    Sabine Lindholst

  4. Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, P.O. Box 50, 8830, Tjele, Denmark

    Anders Feilberg

Authors
  1. Søren O. Petersen
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  2. Nadia Dorno
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  3. Sabine Lindholst
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  4. Anders Feilberg
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  5. Jørgen Eriksen
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Correspondence to Søren O. Petersen.

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Petersen, S.O., Dorno, N., Lindholst, S. et al. Emissions of CH4, N2O, NH3 and odorants from pig slurry during winter and summer storage. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 95, 103–113 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-013-9551-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-013-9551-3

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