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Nitrogen losses from animal manures: from grazed pastures and from applied slurry

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Animal Manure on Grassland and Fodder Crops. Fertilizer or Waste?

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 30))

Abstract

Less than 20% of inorganic fertilizer nitrogen (N) applied to grass swards is recovered in animal products. In this paper, the extent of N transformations and losses either from excreta returned directly to grazed pastures or from slurry applied to grassland is reviewed. The three major pathways of N loss after return of excreta, namely gaseous emission (i.e. through ammonia (NH3) volatilization and denitrification), surface run-off and leaching are discussed. The impact of the grazing ruminant or the application of slurry on potential N loss is considerable. For example, NH3 volatilization can result in losses of from 60–80% of the urinary N applied to pastures. Under grazing, significant NH3 losses have been recorded which are greatest (i) during or immediately after the grazing period, (ii) with high stocking densities and (iii) in cycles of wetting and drying. NH3 losses from applied slurry are variable, but are always greatest immediately after application and are reduced by injection. There are strong interactions between the denitrification and leaching processes which have yet to be quantified; both processes are greater under grazed than under cut swards. Denitrification rates are dependent upon temperature, moisture and nitrate status. Slurry application, through increased soluble carbon contents and anaerobic conditions, increases the potential for denitrification; this is greatest when slurry is injected rather than surface-spread.

There have been few studies of run-off from grazed swards but, although greater than from cut swards, the rates of loss by this means are low. Major proportions of the run-off loss that occur from slurry are associated with events immediately after application. Relationships between rates of slurry application and N in run-off waters have been established. The N accumulated from animal returns to grazed swards results in leaching losses of nitrate-N that are from 3.5 to 6 times greater than those from cut swards. There is little information on the extent of nitrate loss following slurry addition, although it is known that losses depend upon rate and time of application. Injection of slurry does not increase the risk of leaching, provided that rates of fertilizer addition are modified to take account of the mineral N in the slurry.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Grassland and Animal Production, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 5LR, UK

    S. C. Jarvis

  2. An Foras Taluntais, Johnstown Castle Research Centre, Wexford, Ireland

    M. Sherwood

  3. Institute for Land and Water Management Research (ICW), P.O. Box 35, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    J. H. A. M. Steenvoorden

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  1. S. C. Jarvis
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  2. M. Sherwood
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  3. J. H. A. M. Steenvoorden
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Agrobiological Research (CABO), Wageningen, The Netherlands

    H. G. Van Der Meer  & G. C. Ennik  & 

  2. Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS), Woodthorne, Wolverhampton, UK

    R. J. Unwin

  3. Institute for Soil Fertility (IB), Haren, The Netherlands

    T. A. Van Dijk

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© 1987 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht

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Jarvis, S.C., Sherwood, M., Steenvoorden, J.H.A.M. (1987). Nitrogen losses from animal manures: from grazed pastures and from applied slurry. In: Van Der Meer, H.G., Unwin, R.J., Van Dijk, T.A., Ennik, G.C. (eds) Animal Manure on Grassland and Fodder Crops. Fertilizer or Waste?. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 30. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3659-1_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3659-1_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8137-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3659-1

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