1. Manure Handling and Storage to Minimize N Loading of the Environment

2. MANURE HANDLING AND STORAGE TO MINIMIZE N LOADING OF THE ENVIRONMENT Reason to store manure –Preserve and contain manure nutrients until it can be spread onto the land at a time compatible with climate and cropping system Goals –Maintain excreted N in non-volatile organic forms Undigested protein Microbial N Urea –Minimize volatilization of NH 3 –If N is volatilized, it should be in the form of N 2 –Prevent losses of N into surface and ground water sources Provide adequate storage until it can be safely spread

3. N TRANSFORMATIONS IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND MANURE STORAGE FACILITIES Manure N Anerobic microbial C skeletons H 2 S degradation (slow) VOCs Fecal N (20-40% of N) Microbial N NH 4 + Slow Urine N aerobic Anerobic (60-80% of N) Microbial NH 3 NO 2 N 2 O urease (rapid) pH (volatile) H 2 N C NH 2 + H + + H 2 O 2NH 4 + 2HCO 3 - In p oultry Urinary N is secreted as uric acid with the feces

4. ADVERSE EFFECTS OF NITROGEN IN THE ENVIRONMENT

5. National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NRSP-3). 2008. NADP Program Office, Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Dr., Champaign, IL 61820. AMMONIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN PRECIPITATION

6. INCREASES IN MORTALITY RISKS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES PER 10 ug/m 3 IN PM 2.5

7. NH 3 volatilization increased by: –Increasing manure pH Increased by increased HCO 3 and NH 3 Increased difference in NH 3 concentration between air at manure surface and ambient air Ambient air NH 3 NH 3 NH 3 NH 3 Manure surface NH 3 NH 3 NH 3 NH 3 NH 3 NH 3 FACTORS AFFECTING NH 3 LOSS FROM LIVESTOCK HOUSING AND MANURE STORAGE FACILITIES (Gay and Knowlton, 2005)

8. Increased surface area Increased air velocity at surface Increased ambient temperature –Increases urease activity –Increases NH 3 mass transfer coefficient –Increases ventilation from confinement buildings Decreased ambient temperatures increase NH 3 concentrations in confinement buidings Increased moisture

9. METHODS TO LIMIT AMMONIA VOLATILIZATION FROM MANURE Dietary approaches –Reduce N excretion Protein nutrition Dietary fiber –Feed acidic Ca and P sources to decrease manure pH Examples –Calcium chloride –Phosphoric acid Limitations –Unpalatable –May cause ulcers in mouth –Feed Yucca extract May inhibit microbial urease Reduces NH 3 emissions from 0 to 26%

10. Technological approaches –Frequent cleaning of manure from facilities N losses by volatilization 1-time cleaning Monthly cleaning Beef feedlot 68% 55.5% 2-times/week cleaning Poultry housing 60 to 90% reductions compared to annual –Reduce manure surface area Methods –Deep litter housing system (Poultry, swine or cattle) »Limited effectiveness (40 - 50% N losses) »Incomplete nitrification and denitrification processes –Slatted floor with deep pit (Swine or cattle) »25% N losses – Tie stall with gutter (Dairy cattle) »8% N losses –Covers (Slurry tanks) »4% N losses

11. –Increase carbon in manure Increases C:N ration to increase microbial growth Carbohydrate VFAs and CH 4 ATP NH 3 Microbial protein Approaches –Increase fiber content of diet –Increase bedding »Chopped bedding is more effective (57% reduction in NH 3 emissions in cattle housing) than long straw »Incomplete nitrification and denitrification processes in manure pack may increase NOx gases

12. –Acidification Materials –Dilute sulfuric acid –Aluminum sulfate (Alum) –Ferrous sulfate –Triple superphosphate –Superphosphate –Calcium chloride –Gypsum (Calcium sulfate) Spraying, flushing or spreading Effectiveness –8 to 60% reductions in NH 3 emissions Limitations –Repeated treatments –Human and animal safety –Hydrogen sulfide emissions

13. –Separate liquid and solids Separates urea in urine from urease in feces Methods –Gravity (decreased NH 3 emissions by 21 to 50%) »Inclined floors (3% slope) »Urine gutters »Sedimentation pits –Mechanical »Screens »Centrifuges »Presses Handling of components –Solids »Land applied »Composted for land application or bedding –Liquids »Need further processing for storage »May be recycled

14. –Drying Poultry housing systems Techniques –Conveyor belt –Dropping boards Effectiveness –Decreasing moisture to 40% within 50 hours reduces N loss to 10% –Urease inhibitors Application –Feedlots (0.32 oz/lb manure) »Thiophosphoric triamide »Cyclohexylphosphoric triamide –Slurries »Phenylphosphorodiamidate Effectiveness –Reduces urea hydrolysis by 70 to 92% Limitations –Requires routine application –Limited availability

15. –Ammonium adsorbents Compounts –Clinoptilolite or Zeolite » (Na,K,Ca) 2-3 Al 3 (Al,Si) 2 Si 13 O 36. 12H 2 O –Peat Cation exchange Effectiveness –Reduced NH 3 concentrations by 35% above broiler litter

16. EFFECTS OF HOUSING SYSTEMS ON N LOSSES Poultry –Systems High-rise layer hen housing –With annual cleaning » 50% N loss »Primarily NH 3 –With deep litter system »40% N loss »NH 3, NOx, and N 2 gases –With conveyor drying »10% N loss »Primarily NH 3 Loose (Aviary) housing –With annual cleaning »30% N loss »NH 3 and NOx gases

17. Swine –Systems Deep-litter –Stored for 3 to 12 months »50% N loss »NOx, N 2, and NH 3 gases Slatted floor with deep pit –Stored for 12 months »25% N loss »Primarily NH 3 »Losses decreased by: Decreasing the percentage of floor that is slatted (10-20% reduction) Multiple flushings/day (30% reduction) Separation of solids from flushing liquid (70% reduction)

18. Cattle –Systems Tie stall barn with deep gutter –With daily cleaning »8% N loss »NH 3, NOx, and N 2 gases Free stall barn with scraping –With daily cleaning »16% N loss (Slightly greater with slatted floor) »NH 3 »Losses particularly sensitive to management (Sloped floors, urine gutters, flushing etc.) Loose housing with deep pack –With infrequent cleaning »35% N loss »NH 3, NOx, and N 2 gases Open feedlot –With annual cleaning –50% N loss (40-90% range) –NH 3, NO 3, NOx, and N 2 gases –Additional losses »Runoff (5 to 19% of excreted N) »Leaching (10 to 16% of excreted N) Dependent on maintenance of compacted soil layer

19. COMMON MANURE STORAGE Solid –Systems Poultry –Litter Swine and Dairy –Separated solids –Bedded manure Beef –Scraped –N losses DM, % N loss, % Poultry manure 50 10 Swine and cattle manure 20 20 NH 3, NO 3, and NOx gases

20. –Facilities Concrete pad with sides Settling basins Angela Rieck-Hinz

21. –Advantages Low volume Low odor Moderate nutrient retention –Disadvantages More labor Must prevent precipitation run-off

22. –Composting Treatment to stabilize N 40% N loss (20-50% range) NH 3, NO 3 and NOx gases Requirements –Appropriate C:N ratio C:N Optimum >30:1 Manures Dairy cow 10:1 Beef cow 10:1 Beef feedlot 13:1 Swine 7-8:1 Poultry 7-9:1 Horse 19:1 –Temperature »140 o F »Requires frequent turning –Moisture level »40-60% –Adequate porosity »Particles should be > 1 inch –pH »5.5 – 7.5 Angela Rieck-Hinz

23. Slurry –For livestock and poultry confinements –DM content, 7 to 12% –Facilities Pit under slatted floor –Needs access ports for pumping and agitation at 40 foot intervals –Ventilation is necessary –Manure is either applied directly or after storage –25% N loss –NH 3 Angela Rieck-Hinz

24. Fabricated storage tank –Manure is either scraped on top or pumped into bottom –N losses »Top loading, 30% »Bottom loading, 8% –NH 3 –Easily covered Angela Rieck-Hinz

25. Earthen basin –Provides a large volume at low cost –Soil materials must seal basin –Vegetation must be maintained on berms –30% N loss –NH 3 Angela Rieck-Hinz

26. Covers for slurry storage facilities –Impermeable Polyethylene Effects –Decreasing NH 3 volatilization caused by »Solar radiation »Wind –Permeable Natural manure-bedding crust, straw, corn stalks, peat moss, geotextile fabric, Leka rock Effects –Decreasing NH 3 volatilization caused by »Solar radiation »Wind –Provides a media for growth of aerobic bacteria Considerations –Depth 8 to 12” –Replace every 1 to 12 months (except Leka rock) –Effectiveness 4% N loss (2-8% range) NH 3

27. Liquid systems –DM content, 5% –Anerobic lagoons Most common liquid system Usually treats liquid fraction separated from solids May be single or series Requires warm temperatures for microbial activity Storage N losses –Amounts »Single stage – 50% »Use of effluent for flush water - 99% –NH 3, NOx, and N 2 gases Management –Requires appropriate soil materials to seal lagoon –Requires solids separation –Manure additions must be slow and uniform –High odor in spring when microbial activity increases under Midwest conditions –Requires periodic sludge removal

28. –Alternate treatments to limit NH 3 loss from liquid systems Aeration –Converts NH 3 to NO 3 –Requirements »Second lagoon with aerator Surface pump Compressed air Aerobic biofilters »One lagoon with 2 compartments Aerobic top and Anerobic bottom –Disadvantages »Expense »Limited effectiveness »Production of NOx gases Methane production –Enclosed anerobic fermentation –Can supply energy for farm or for sale –Requires additional structure for storage of effluent –Good N retention if additional storage is covered –Expense

29. Constructed wetlands –For processing liquid fraction after solids separation »N trapped in plants growing in or on wetland –Types »Surface Most common »Subsurface Water treatment in a gravel bed Works better in winter than surface wetland May plug

30. N LOSSES FROM DIFFERENT MANURE HANDLING AND STORAGE SYSTEMS N loss, % N retention, % Daily scrape and haul from barn 20-35 65-80 Open lot 40-70 30-60 Pile (Cattle/Swine) 10-40 60-90 Pile (Poultry) 5-15 85-95 Compost 20- 50 50-80 Deep pit (Poultry) 25-50 50-75 Litter 25-50 50-75 Pit under floor (Swine) 15-30 70-85 Tank above ground top loaded 20-35 65-80 Tank above ground bottom loaded 5-10 90-95 Tank above ground with cover 2-30 70-98 Holding basin 20-40 60-80 Anerobic lagoon w/ no cover 70-80 15-30 Constructed wetlands 15 85

31. FACTORS AFFECTING SIZE OF MANURE STORAGE Volume of manure and wastewater produced –Include wash water, run-off from open lots and feed storage, and water for flushing Limitations for spreading –Amounts of land available for spreading –Crop nutrient requirements Length of storage period –Climatic limitations –Length of application windows –Needs A minimum of 6 months storage Equipment capabilities Discharge regulations –All beef and dairy CAFOs No discharge except for a 25-year, 24-hour storm –All new or renewed swine, poultry, and veal CAFOs No discharge except for a 100-year, 24-hour storm

32. Acknowledgements: This course is supported in part by: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Award No. 2006- 51130-03700 The Brenton Center for Agricultural Instruction & Technology Transfer