Ammonia and nitrous oxide interactions: Roles of manure organic matter management

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology Vol. 166; pp. 503 - 513
• Main Authors: Petersen, Søren O, Sommer, Sven G
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 23.06.2011; [New York, NY]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acidification; Ammonia; animal manure management; Biological and medical sciences; composting; dairy cattle; Digestion; Feed and pet food industries; feeds; Food industries; foods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; greenhouse gas emissions; greenhouse gases; livestock production; Mitigation; Nitrous oxide; nutrient management; organic matter; Separation; TAN; Mitigation; Ammonia; Separation; GHG; CAFO; Acidification; LU; Nitrous oxide; Digestion; MFE; OM; Organic matter; Interaction; Management
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.04.077

Intensification of livestock production in many parts of the world has led to increasing atmospheric losses of N in connection with storage and field application of manure. Both types of emissions are influenced by manure organic matter content via mechanisms such as composting, crust formation, mineralization-immobilization turnover, and water retention. Manure management affects the potential for, and balance between, NH₃ and N₂O emissions. The interaction between NH₃ and N₂O may be positive (e.g., both emissions are reduced by an airtight cover during storage and stimulated by composting), or negative (e.g., direct N₂O emissions from soil will potentially increase if losses of NH₃ are prevented during storage or field application). Emissions of NH₃ and N₂O negatively affect N use efficiency and the greenhouse gas (GHG) balance of livestock production. Ammonia and N₂O emissions and GHG balances of manure management, and the mitigation potential of individual and combined measures to prevent emissions, are calculated for dairy cattle with an emission factor approach. A more precise determination of overall N₂O and NH₃ emissions requires a model that accounts for the complex interactions between C and N transformations at each stage of the manure management chain in a time scale that is relevant for management practices such as retention time in housing and storage, treatment to optimize nutrient management, and timing of field application. Modelling emissions of N₂O from field applied manure is a particular challenge due to the heterogeneity in distribution of O₂ supply and O₂ demand which is introduced. This article is part of the special issue entitled: Greenhouse Gases in Animal Agriculture - Finding a Balance between Food and Emissions, Guest Edited by T.A. McAllister, Section Guest Editors; K.A. Beauchemin, X. Hao, S. McGinn and Editor for Animal Feed Science and Technology, P.H. Robinson.