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Due to the alarming effect of synthetic and chemical-based agriculture on human health and the environment, organic farming has been receiving increasing attention around the world. Panchagavya (PG) and farmyard manure play crucial roles in organic farming’s nutrient management. Despite its known potential in crop applications, Panchagavya microbial profile has yet to be mapped. The aim of this study is to unveil the succession of bacterial communities in Panchagavya during the fermentation process using targeted amplicon analysis. The results revealed that 45 phyla, 92 classes, 168 orders, 333 families, 899 genera, and 2026 species were obtained from all samples, along with 5144 OTUs. Proteobacteria (36.61-70.98%) and Bacteroidetes (14.59-23.81%) were found in greater abundance in all samples, with Proteobacteria being the most common in all samples, followed by Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes (12.67-29.58%). Pseudomonas was a dominant member of the fermentation process, along with Romboutsia, Paeniclostridium, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Ruminococcus. The findings indicate that Panchagavya demonstrates effectiveness as a fertilizer due to its inclusion of advantageous microorganisms and growth stimulants for plants. Furthermore, some bacterial members that have not yet been characterized for any role in the soil and plant systems, urging a comprehensive investigation into the potential functions for future agricultural applications and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Animal manure has been used to manage soil fertility since the dawn of agriculture. It provides plant nutrients and improves soil fertility. In the last decades, animal husbandry has been significantly expanded globally. Its economics were optimized via the (international) trade of feed, resulting in a surplus of animal manure in areas with intensive livestock farming. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs), pathogenic microorganisms, antibiotic residues, biocides, and other micropollutants in manure threaten animal, human, and environmental health. Hence, manure application in crop fields is increasingly restricted, especially in hotspot regions with intensive livestock activities. Furthermore, ammonia volatilization and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during manure storage, field application, and decomposition contribute to air pollution and climate change. Conventional manure management scenarios such as composting and anaerobic digestion partially improve the system but cannot guarantee to eliminate sanitary and contamination risks and only marginally reducing its climate burden. Hence, this review discusses the potential of pyrolysis, the thermochemical conversion under oxygen‐limited conditions as an alternative treatment for animal manure providing energy and biochar. Manure pyrolysis reduces the bioavailability of PTEs, eliminates pathogenic microorganisms and organic micropollutants, and reduces GHG emissions. Pyrolysis also results in the loss of nitrogen, which can be minimized by pretreatment, that is, after removing soluble nitrogen fraction of manure, for example, by digestion and stripping of ammonia–nitrogen or liquid–solid separation. However, conclusions on the effect of manure pyrolysis on crop yield and fertilization efficiencies are hampered by a lack of nutrient mass balances based on livestock unit equivalent comparisons of manure and manure biochar applications. Hence, it is essential to design and conduct experiments in more practically relevant scenarios and depict the observations based on the amount of manure used to produce a certain amount of biochar.

The article presents the results of an analysis of the dependence of the volume ofconsumption of various types of natural fertilizers in Poland, on the intensity of animal husbandry. As a measure of the intensity of animal husbandry, the level of animal stocking rate was adopted. The scope of the analysis covered the years 2017-2020. The amount of natural fertilizer consumption was determined at the level of voivodeships. The study showed that the size of animal stocking rates in Poland is determined by the share of cattle, followed by pig and poultry stocking rates. Analysis of basic statistical indicators, confirmed spatial inequality with regard to the location of animal husbandry in Poland at the regional level. The intensity ofmanure application is a reflection of the level of livestock stocking, and this relationship isexplained by a 2 polynomial regression, where R2 = 0.7326. The highest intensity oflivestock and natural fertilization in Poland was the Podlaskie Voivodeship, where theaverage level of natural fertilizer use in recent years was 11.48 t/ha UAA, and the stocking rate was 85.2 LU/100 ha UAA, while the average level of use for Poland is 4.64 t/ha UAA. The amount of each type of manure applied per large animal unit (LU) is relatively constant, and in Poland in recent years has been: 6.0 t of manure, 0.8 t of poultry manure, 1.3 m3 of liquid manure and 2.4 m3 of slurry.

Animal manure has been used to manage soil fertility since the dawn of agriculture. It provides plant nutrients and improves soil fertility. In the last decades, animal husbandry has been significantly expanded globally. Its economics were optimized via the (international) trade of feed, resulting in a surplus of animal manure in areas with intensive livestock farming. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs), pathogenic microorganisms, antibiotic residues, biocides, and other micropollutants in manure threaten animal, human, and environmental health. Hence, manure application in crop fields is increasingly restricted, especially in hotspot regions with intensive livestock activities. Furthermore, ammonia volatilization and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during manure storage, field application, and decomposition contribute to air pollution and climate change. Conventional manure management scenarios such as composting and anaerobic digestion partially improve the system but cannot guarantee to eliminate sanitary and contamination risks and only marginally reducing its climate burden. Hence, this review discusses the potential of pyrolysis, the thermochemical conversion under oxygen‐limited conditions as an alternative treatment for animal manure providing energy and biochar. Manure pyrolysis reduces the bioavailability of PTEs, eliminates pathogenic microorganisms and organic micropollutants, and reduces GHG emissions. Pyrolysis also results in the loss of nitrogen, which can be minimized by pretreatment, that is, after removing soluble nitrogen fraction of manure, for example, by digestion and stripping of ammonia–nitrogen or liquid–solid separation. However, conclusions on the effect of manure pyrolysis on crop yield and fertilization efficiencies are hampered by a lack of nutrient mass balances based on livestock unit equivalent comparisons of manure and manure biochar applications. Hence, it is essential to design and conduct experiments in more practically relevant scenarios and depict the observations based on the amount of manure used to produce a certain amount of biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists is the property of Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Pig slurries account for a large proportion of the organic manure available worldwide. Because of the large range of slurry compositions, farmers need fast and accurate alternatives to laboratory methods to assess nutrient concentrations in these farm‐based fertilizers. In this way, nutrient emissions into the environment can be reduced and targeted nutrition of crops can be implemented, while mineral fertilizers can be saved. Aim: The objective was to evaluate whether it is possible to rapidly determine ammonium and potassium concentrations in pig slurries on‐farm using ion‐selective electrodes (ISE) and to compare the measurement with established methods. Methods: A total of 391 pig slurry samples were collected from farms in north‐west Germany, and ammonium and potassium concentrations were analyzed in the laboratory. Then the composition of pig slurries was measured with ISE, the Quantofix‐N‐Volumeter (QV) and an electrical conductivity (EC) meter and regression models were used to evaluate the on‐farm quick tests. Results: For the 391 pig slurries studied, regressions with an R2 of 0.92 for ammonium and 0.91 for potassium were achieved for concentrations measured with the ISE in comparison with laboratory analyzes. The model fits for the electrodes were significantly higher than those based on the EC for ammonium and potassium, and it was equivalent to the QV method for the assessment of the ammonium concentration. Conclusion: Due to the simple and rapid measurement, ISE offer high potential for on‐farm quantification of ammonium and potassium concentrations in pig slurries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing contributions of nitrous oxide (N2O) from agriculture to the atmosphere is a concern. Manure is often used in croplands as a source of nutrients, but this practice can contribute to the release of N2O. We quantified N2O emissions from barley fields after repeated injections of liquid manure in the fall or spring with or without nitrification inhibitors (NIs: DMPP and nitrapyrin) in Central Alberta, Canada. Flux measurements were done with surface chambers from soil thawing to freezing. Soil moisture, ammonium and nitrate were repeatedly measured. Across all manure treatments, annual N2O emissions ranged broadly from 1.3 up to 15.8 kg N2O–N ha–1, and likewise, the direct emission factor (EFd) varied from 0.23 up to 2.91%. When comparing the manure injections without NIs, spring-manure had higher annual N2O EFd than fall-manure. The effectiveness of NIs on reducing emissions was only evident in moist soils (up to 52% emission reduction). The soil during the spring thaw after the last manure injections was very wet, and this generated high N2O emissions from soils that had received repeated manure injections in the previous years. We interpreted this result as an increased differential residual effect in soils amended with spring-manure in the previous growing season. This outcome supports the need to account for emissions in succeeding springs when estimating N2O EFd of manure injections. Neglecting this residual spring-thaw N2O emission would lead to a substantial underestimation of year-round EFd. Across all treatment combinations, increased spring-thaw N2O emissions were associated with increases in both moisture and postharvest nitrate in these heavily-manured soils. Although injecting liquid manure raised N2O emissions, admixing NIs showed a strong mitigation role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies that separate manure or digestate into fractions with different solids and nutrient contents present interesting options to mitigate manure storage emissions (by reducing the quantity of carbon stored anaerobically) and to improve nutrient distribution (by reducing the quantity of water transported with nutrients). In this study, the dairy farm model, DairyCrop-Syst, was used to simulate storage emissions of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ammonia (NH3), and to simulate nutrient distribution for a case-study farm in Canada. The farm used several types of manure processing, including: anaerobic digestion (AD), solid-liquid separation (SLS), and nutrient recovery (NR). Simulations were done with combinations of the above technologies, i.e., a baseline with only AD that produced a single (unseparated) effluent, compared to AD+SLS, and AD+SLS+NR that produced two separate fractions. With AD+SLS+NR, the processing system isolated a solid fraction with a high concentration of N and P, and a liquid fraction containing less nutrients. Compared to the baseline system, the addition of solid liquid separation and nutrient recovery (i.e. SLS+NR) reduced CH4 emissions from outdoor liquid digestate storage by 87%, with only a small offset from higher N2O and NH3 emissions from storing the solid fraction. The solid fraction was simulated to be transported to fields at least 30 km away from the dairy barns, while the liquid fraction was transported by dragline to fields adjacent to the barn. The advanced nutrient separation system resulted in much lower transport costs for manure nutrients and the ability to transport N and P to greater distances.

Evaluating the nitrogen (N) use efficiency of animal manure is essential to optimize its application for profitable crop production without impairing the environment. A four-year field study was conducted under corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation in a Brookston clay loam soil using the yield control approach. Treatments included inorganic fertilizer (IN), and liquid (LM), solid (SM), and composted (CM) swine manure applied at the rate equivalent to an available N of 200 kg ha−1 and a non-fertilization control (CT). Seven N use indices were employed to evaluate N use efficiency. LM obtained comparable corn yields relative to IN. Corn yield in SM was inconsistent from one year to another, and CM had minimal agronomical value in our study. Soybeans with IN posed the highest grain yields of 3,468 and 3,761 kg ha−1 in 2005 and 2007, respectively. In contrast to grain yield and total N uptake, the gain N removal of either corn or soybeans was comparable between the two alternative years. The distinctions between N supply dynamics of manures and their influences on yield, grain N removal, and total above-ground plant N uptake of corn were well discriminated by N use efficiency (NUE), N uptake efficiency (NUpE), N utilization efficiency (NUtE), N agronomic efficiency (NAE), and N recovery efficiency (NRE), but not by N physiological efficiency (NPE) and N harvest index (NHI). Legacy effects on soybean yield from the preceding corn were detected by NAE and NRE. Based on grain yield in conjunction with N use efficiency parameters, the IN performed the best, followed by LM. The NUE, NUpE, NUtE, NAE, and NRE parameters used to evaluate chemical fertilizer N were also applicable to evaluate manure N efficiency.

Aiming to solve the problems of easy clogging and high energy consumption of multi-way fertilization devices for liquid manure, a crushing and impurity removal device for liquid manure was designed by combining the physical characteristics of liquid manure and impurities, and building the corresponding test bench. The proposed device could crush flexible impurities such as straw and filoplume and intercept hard impurities with high density. The main structural parameters of the device were determined according to the survey analysis and the theoretical design. The influences of cutter head shape, cutter edge angle, cutter shaft speed, and cutting clearance on the disqualification rate and energy consumption of straw crushing were obtained by a single-factor experiment. Furthermore, the Box–Behnken central composite design method of the response surface was employed to investigate the effects of the cutter shaft speed, cutting clearance, and cutter edge angle on the disqualification rate and energy consumption of straw crushing. In addition, the working parameters of the device were optimized by employing the response surface method. On this basis, the mathematical relationship model among the disqualification rate, energy consumption, and all influencing factors was established. The results show that the optimal combination of working parameters includes a cutter shaft speed of 312 r/min, a cutting clearance of 1.4 mm, and a cutter edge angle of 45°. From the prediction model, the predicted failure rate was 4.15%, and the predicted energy consumption was 47.53 J. The verification experiment was then performed under the optimal combination of working parameters. The obtained disqualification rate was 4.08% and the energy consumption was 47.56 J, which met the design and work requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice straw (RS) is a widely available agricultural residue with significant potential for biogas production and feed applications; however, its poor digestibility and nutritional value limit its utilization. This study explores an innovative approach to enhance the digestibility and nutritional value of RS by cultivating Chlorella vulgaris through immobilization technology on RS, using liquid manure (LM) as an alternative to the traditional BG11 medium. The results showed an increase in chlorophyll a (Chl a) after 12 days for both the BG11 medium and LM-based treatments, from 0.13 to 0.34 and 0.24 mg Chl a /g product (DM) , respectively. Additionally, the immobilized microalgal biomass increased to 284.18 and 170.14 mg algal biomass /g product (DM) , respectively. Soaking under microaerobic conditions during cultivation led to the partial degradation of RS. This, combined with the formed microalgal biofilm, contributed to an improved digestibility of the dry matter, reaching 69.1% and 65.9% for the final products based on the BG11 medium and LM mediums, respectively, compared to 52.1% for the raw RS. Furthermore, the crude protein and lipids contents were significantly improved with the potential for applications in feed, reaching 21.4% and 4.1% for the BG11 medium-based product, while they were observed to be 12.8% and 3.0%, respectively, for the LM-based product. Additionally, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio was significantly reduced compared to the raw RS. The higher digestibility and improved nutritional value contributed to increased biogas production, reaching 129.3 and 118.7 mL/g (TS) for the products based on the traditional medium and LM medium, respectively, compared to 86.7 mL/g (TS) for the raw RS. The immobilization mechanism and biofilm development could be attributed to the roughness of the RS and extracellular polymer substances. This study demonstrates that integrating C. vulgaris cultivation on RS with LM as a nutrient source not only enhances the digestibility and nutritional value of RS but also offers a sustainable waste management solution with potential applications in biogas production and animal feed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Thermophilic aeration and electrochemical reactions are well-established methods for wastewater treatment to reduce metallic content, organic and inorganic matter, turbidity, coloration, and nutrient levels. In this study, thermophilic aerobic oxidation (TAO) and electrocoagulation (EC) were implemented together to improve the quality of liquid fertilizer by reducing the nutrient load and toxicity of swine manure. The influent in this study was prepared by mixing anaerobic digestate and liquid swine manure at a 1:9 ratio and treating it for 3 days at 50–60 °C in a field-scale TAO system. The TAO effluent was then processed in an EC reactor for 180 min with a 30 V electric supply through two sets of iron and aluminum hybrid electrodes. The combined TAO and EC processes led to a germination index of 133% using the final efflux. The high retention of important nutrients such as total nitrogen and potassium, combined with the 100% reduction in heavy metals, over 60% reduction in trace minerals, and 89% reduction in pollutants in the final product, helped to achieve a higher germination index. Overall, the combination of TAO and EC was demonstrated to be an effective technique for enhancing the quality of liquid fertilizer derived from swine manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problems of high error on both sides and high coefficient of variation during liquid manure distribution, this work designed a distribution mechanism integrating conveying, stirring and distribution functions, combined with the physical properties of selected liquid manure. Taking rotor speed, inlet flow and moving cutter structure as test factors, the Design-Expert 8.0.6 software was used to design "three-factor three-level quadratic regression" orthogonal test and establish response surface regression model. Through observing relative error and coefficient of variation, uniform distribution characteristics test and parameter optimization of liquid manure were performed. The results showed that the primary and secondary order of influencing factors on the relative error is rotor speed> inlet flow > moving cutter structure; the primary and secondary order of influencing factors on the coefficient of variation is inlet flow > moving cutter structure> rotor speed. Further, the optimization test indicated that 170 r/min rotor speed, 80 m3/h inlet flow, combined with arc-shaped moving cutter structure could output 10.50% relative error and 9.30% variation rate, which was less than 5% relative to the model predicted value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibacterial substances such as sulfonamides are widely used in veterinary medicine to treat many bacterial diseases. After their administration to animals, up to 90% of the initial dose of the antibiotic is excreted in the feces and/or urine, which can be applied to farmland as natural or organic fertilizers. In this work, an analytical method was developed with the use of HPLC-FLD for the detection and quantification of five sulfonamides (sulfaguanidine, sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine, sulamethazine and sulfamethoxazol) in poultry and pig feces, slurry and digestates. The method was validated according to EU requirements (Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and VICH GL49). Linearity, decision limit, detection capability, detection and quantification limits, recovery, precision, and selectivity were determined, and adequate results were obtained. Using the HPLC-FLD method for all analyzed matrices, recoveries were satisfactory (77.00–121.16%), with repeatability and reproducibility in the range of 4.36–17.34% to 7.94–18.55%, respectively. Decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) were 33.87–67.63 and 53.36–92.00 µg/kg, respectively, and limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 13.53–23.30 and 26.02–40.38 µg/kg, respectively, depending on the analyte. The forty-four samples of natural and organic fertilizers were analyzed, and four samples showed sulfamethoxazole in the amount from range 158 to 11,070 µg/kg. The application of antibiotics including sulfonamides for farming animals is widespread and may lead to the development of antibiotic resistance and other environmental effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study discusses the results of the analysis of changes in the management of natural fertilizers in Poland and voivodships. Analysis included changes in: the number and percentage of individual farms using natural fertilizer, fertilized area, and level of consumption of particular fertilizer types. The comparative analysis at a voivodship level concerned the years 2007 and 2016. The current situation with regard to fertilized area and natural fertilizer rates was also assessed on the basis of Statistics Poland data from the years 2018-2019. The results of analyses indicated that the number of farms using natural fertilizers in Poland has clearly decreased. Despite observing an increase in the interest in slurry application, the most popular natural fertilizer applied is still manure, which, in the years 2018-2019, was applied on 18% of utilized agricultural area. In Poland, the average annual rates of applied manure, liquid manure and slurry are, respectively 17 t/ha, 22 m3/ha and 26 m3/ha. An analysis of the organization and intensity of natural fertiliser management in the Podlaskie Voivodeship shows that this is the leading region in this aspect, which confirms its dominant position in livestock production in Poland.

Background: For the successful adoption of organic farming especially under protected cultivation conditions there is a dire need to enrich and fortify the different composts for meeting out the requirements of crops. Experiments were conducted at Model Organic Farm, Department of Organic Agriculture and Natural Farming, CSKHPKV, Palampur and at farmers field in Akrot, Una and Rajol Kangra of HP with an objective to evaluate different enriched composts under protected organic farming conditions. Methods: The experiments were conducted with 9 treatments viz. Matka khad (M) + Rock phosphate (RP), Matka khad + Gypsum (G), Matka khad + Patent kali (PK), Matka khad + Lime (L), Matka khad + control, Matka khad + Combination of RP,G,PK,L + Tricoderma + Rhi/Azoto + PSB, Panchgavya + Combination of RP,G,PK,L + Tricoderma + Rhi/Azoto + PSB, Jeevamrit + Combination of RP,G,PK,L + Tricoderma + Rhi/Azoto + PSB and Vermicompost. These treatments were selected after preparation of enriched and fortified FYM and its evaluation by microbial and nutrient analysis. Pea crop variety Pb-89 and Capsicum crop variety California wonder were selected for the experiments under polyhouse at research farm and at farmer's field. Result: Results showed that inoculation of biomass with matka khad along with additives i.e. rock phosphate, gypsum, patent kali and lime @ of 1% and fortification with Tricoderma, suitable biofertilizer (Rhizobium/Azotobacter) along with PSB increased the yield of Pea crop more than 40% at organic farm and farmers fields, whereas in case of capsicum the increase in yield was to the tune of 14% at model organic farm and more than 40% at two different sites of farmers field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Plant Science is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aiming to solve the problems of easy clogging and high energy consumption of multi-way fertilization devices for liquid manure, a crushing and impurity removal device for liquid manure was designed by combining the physical characteristics of liquid manure and impurities, and building the corresponding test bench. The proposed device could crush flexible impurities such as straw and filoplume and intercept hard impurities with high density. The main structural parameters of the device were determined according to the survey analysis and the theoretical design. The influences of cutter head shape, cutter edge angle, cutter shaft speed, and cutting clearance on the disqualification rate and energy consumption of straw crushing were obtained by a single-factor experiment. Furthermore, the Box–Behnken central composite design method of the response surface was employed to investigate the effects of the cutter shaft speed, cutting clearance, and cutter edge angle on the disqualification rate and energy consumption of straw crushing. In addition, the working parameters of the device were optimized by employing the response surface method. On this basis, the mathematical relationship model among the disqualification rate, energy consumption, and all influencing factors was established. The results show that the optimal combination of working parameters includes a cutter shaft speed of 312 r/min, a cutting clearance of 1.4 mm, and a cutter edge angle of 45°. From the prediction model, the predicted failure rate was 4.15%, and the predicted energy consumption was 47.53 J. The verification experiment was then performed under the optimal combination of working parameters. The obtained disqualification rate was 4.08% and the energy consumption was 47.56 J, which met the design and work requirements.

Nitrate leaching from agriculture can be reduced by the choice of fertilizer and a proper timing of its application. For permanent grassland grown under temperate conditions, nitrate leaching was hypothesized to be lower from dairy cattle slurry (CS) compared to synthetic fertilizer calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), based on differences in chemical composition, consequential effects on nitrogen (N) conversion processes in soil, and resulting differences in synchronization of (nitrate) N availability and plant N uptake. We tested the hypothesis in a two-year field experiment on cut grassland on a leaching-sensitive sandy soil, fertilized each year with 320 kg ha−1 of plant-available N from either 100% top-dressed CAN or a combination of 40% from CAN and 60% from sod-injected CS, and measured effects on grass herbage yield, herbage N uptake, and nitrate concentration in pore water at 1.0 m depth. Our results show a comparable level of herbage N uptake for both treatments, allowing for a proper comparison of nitrate leaching at a similar level of plant-available N. Average nitrate concentration in pore water in the main leaching period (over winter) was after the first (dry) growing season 44% lower for CS + CAN (41 mg l−1) compared to CAN only (73 mg l−1), and after the second (wet) growing season 35% lower for CS + CAN (32 mg l−1) compared to CAN only (49 mg l−1). Nitrogen application increased nitrate concentration at 1.0 m depth not only in winter but also in the growing season. We conclude that for permanent grasslands in temperate regions, nitrate leaching from timely applied CS may be considerably lower than from CAN, which is different from previous assumptions. • Nitrate leaching from cattle slurry was lower than from fertilizer on grassland. • Leaching was 35–44% lower for slurry + fertilizer compared to fertilizer only. • Nitrate was not only leached in winter but also in the growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy systems are a source of pollutant emissions, such as greenhouse gases (GHG) and NH3 that are associated with impacts on the environment. Gas emissions in barns are related mainly to diet intake and chemical composition, N excretion and manure management. A reduction in dietary N is known to be an effective way to reduce N excretion and the resulting NH3 emissions. However, most studies consider manure in liquid form with frequent removal from the barn. In deep litter systems, several processes can occur during the accumulation of solid manure that result in variable gas emissions. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the influence of the interaction between dietary CP (low or high) and manure management (liquid or solid) on gas emissions (NH3, N2O, CH4) at the barn level. Dietary treatments provided either low (LowN; 12% CP) or high (HighN; 18% CP) degradable protein to modify the amount of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) excreted. The cows were housed for two 8-week periods in two mechanically ventilated rooms equipped to manage manure either in liquid (LM; slurry) or solid form (SM; deep litter). In the LM treatment, N balance was measured for 4 days. As expected, animals fed the LowN diet ingested 35% less N and excreted 65% less N in their urine, with no reduction in faecal N excretion and N secretion in milk. On the LowN diet, excretion of urea-N and NH3-N emissions were reduced regardless of the manure management. On the HighN diet, urinary urea-N excretion was three times as high, while NH3-N emissions were 3.0 and 4.5 times as high in LM and SM, respectively. Manure management strongly influenced CH4-C emissions, which were 30% higher in SM than in LM, due to the accumulation of litter. Moreover, gas emissions from solid manure increased over the accumulation period, except for NH3 on the LowN diet. Finally, our results suggest that methods used for national inventories would become more accurate by considering the variability in TAN excretion, which is the primary factor that influences NH3 emissions.

Thermophilic aeration and electrochemical reactions are well-established methods for wastewater treatment to reduce metallic content, organic and inorganic matter, turbidity, coloration, and nutrient levels. In this study, thermophilic aerobic oxidation (TAO) and electrocoagulation (EC) were implemented together to improve the quality of liquid fertilizer by reducing the nutrient load and toxicity of swine manure. The influent in this study was prepared by mixing anaerobic digestate and liquid swine manure at a 1:9 ratio and treating it for 3 days at 50–60 °C in a field-scale TAO system. The TAO effluent was then processed in an EC reactor for 180 min with a 30 V electric supply through two sets of iron and aluminum hybrid electrodes. The combined TAO and EC processes led to a germination index of 133% using the final efflux. The high retention of important nutrients such as total nitrogen and potassium, combined with the 100% reduction in heavy metals, over 60% reduction in trace minerals, and 89% reduction in pollutants in the final product, helped to achieve a higher germination index. Overall, the combination of TAO and EC was demonstrated to be an effective technique for enhancing the quality of liquid fertilizer derived from swine manure.

Antibacterial substances such as sulfonamides are widely used in veterinary medicine to treat many bacterial diseases. After their administration to animals, up to 90% of the initial dose of the antibiotic is excreted in the feces and/or urine, which can be applied to farmland as natural or organic fertilizers. In this work, an analytical method was developed with the use of HPLC-FLD for the detection and quantification of five sulfonamides (sulfaguanidine, sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine, sulamethazine and sulfamethoxazol) in poultry and pig feces, slurry and digestates. The method was validated according to EU requirements (Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and VICH GL49). Linearity, decision limit, detection capability, detection and quantification limits, recovery, precision, and selectivity were determined, and adequate results were obtained. Using the HPLC-FLD method for all analyzed matrices, recoveries were satisfactory (77.00–121.16%), with repeatability and reproducibility in the range of 4.36–17.34% to 7.94–18.55%, respectively. Decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) were 33.87–67.63 and 53.36–92.00 µg/kg, respectively, and limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 13.53–23.30 and 26.02–40.38 µg/kg, respectively, depending on the analyte. The forty-four samples of natural and organic fertilizers were analyzed, and four samples showed sulfamethoxazole in the amount from range 158 to 11,070 µg/kg. The application of antibiotics including sulfonamides for farming animals is widespread and may lead to the development of antibiotic resistance and other environmental effects.

Organic farming is an internationally regulated, legally enforced and standardized alternative agricultural paradigm that relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions with the aim of sustaining the health of soils, ecosystems and people. Organic farming utilizes various naturally obtaining substances such as manures, bio-fertilizers. Widely recognized among them are manures and bio-fertilizers. Conventionally they are applied as a solid and carrier based, but modern approach of applying in liquid form is gaining reputation. Application in liquid form facilitates better release of nutrients, enhancement of soil microbial activity, improvement of soil aggregation, soil properties and soil health. Some of the famous liquid manures are jeevamruth, panchagavya, beejamruth, vermiwash, humic acid and sea weed extract. Based on these evidences this paper explores the effectiveness, importance and limitations of most commonly used organic liquid manures. This paper also explains about the usage of liquid bio-fertilizers and their advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manure application and no‐till management improve soil quality, crop yields and C inputs, but little specific knowledge is available regarding the combined effect of long‐term dairy liquid manure (DLM) application and no‐till management on soil organic matter status and soil structure in topsoils. Here, we assess the impacts of surface‐applied DLM for a 10‐year period on soil total organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen (TN) concentrations and stocks, on organic matter fractions and on soil physical‐structural attributes in a no‐till crop rotation system on clayey Ferralsol under no‐till crop rotation management in a subtropical climate. Four rates of DLM (0, 60, 120 and 180 m3 ha−1 year−1) were applied in a randomized block design with four replications. Soil samples were collected to calculate TOC and TN stocks to 100‐cm depth and organic matter fractions in the 0–5‐cm layer, and physical indicators of soil quality: bulk density, macroporosity and microporosity and aggregate stability. The largest DLM rates (120 and 180 m3 ha−1 year−1) added 3.8–5.8 Mg C ha−1 year−1 as manure, increased crop residue input by 0.6 Mg C ha−1 year−1, and increased TOC stock by 17% and TN stock by 27% in the top 10 cm of soil, at annual accumulation rates that averaged 0.72 Mg C ha−1 year−1 and 86 kg N ha−1 year−1. Stocks of TOC and TN in the sand‐POM (particulate organic matter) fraction under the 180 m3 ha−1 year−1 rate increased by 49 and 63%, and in the silt‐MOM (mineral‐associated organic matter) fraction by 30 and 47%, respectively. In the clay‐MOM fraction, the change in TOC was not significant, but the TN increased by 16%. Soil physical‐structural attributes (bulk density, porosity and aggregates) were improved by DLM application in the 10‐cm layer and followed the soil carbon and nitrogen increments. Overall, the DLM amendment applied on the soil surface of no‐till proved to be a strategy to ameliorate soil organic matter status, an important factor for agronomic and environmental benefits, besides improving crop biomass production. Highlights: Long‐term application of liquid manure increased concentration and stock of SOC and TN in the 0–10‐cm layer.Increases of 0.72 Mg C ha−1 year−1 and 86 kg N ha−1 year−1 were observed in the 10‐cm topsoil with manure.SOC and TN increased in the sand‐POM and silt‐MOM size fractions but not the clay‐MOM fraction.Improvements to soil physical‐structural attributes were related to organic matter changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of pig slurry (PS) in fluid fertilizer formulation, for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply, consists of an innovative technology due to this waste reuse in the environment. The objective of this study was to assess the agronomic efficiency of fluid organomineral fertilizers with PS concerning solid and fluid forms of soluble minerals as a source of N and P in a Typic Quartzipsamment (Entisol) and Typic Hapludox (Oxisol). Two experiments were carried out in a greenhouse, with three sequential cultivations in a completely randomized design. Experiment 1: was composed of N and presented the treatments Without-Nitrogen (N-W), solid mineral (N-SM), fluid mineral (N-FM), and fluid with PS (N-FO). Experiment 2: was composed of P and presented the treatments Without-Phosphorus (P-W), solid mineral (P-SM), fluid mineral (P-FM), and fluid with PS (P-FO). The fertilizer N-FO presented a lower N use efficiency by crops in Entisol when compared to the granular fertilizer N–SM, but a higher efficiency in Oxisol. For phosphorus, the fertilizer P-FO was more efficient concerning the solid mineral source P-SM in both Oxisol and Entisol soils. Fluid organomineral fertilizer with PS demonstrated to be a promising source of N and P for crop fertilization, especially in sandy soils, however, more studies are needed with this fertilizer type and its effect on plants and into acid soils of variable charges.

• A model was created to predict fecal volatile solids in dairy farm manure. • A key limiting factor to model creation was time cattle spent on concrete surfaces. • Collected data showed amounts of time that cattle spend on concrete surfaces. • Model evaluation showed that most (~77%) fecal VS was from lactating cows. • The model showed liquid fecal VS of 65% for freestall and 37% for drylot dairies. A source of methane (CH 4) emissions from dairy farms arefecal volatile solids (VS) produced by cattle, which is impacted by herd size, cattle type, feed intake/composition and farm management practices. Where cattle deposit fecal VS in their pen is important in this regard since that deposited on concrete, which will be handled and stored in a liquid form, is a likely source of CH 4 emissions, whereas fecal VS deposited on drylot surfaces will be handled and stored in a dry form and is a minor source of CH 4 emissions. Our objective was to create a model to assist dairy farmers and regulators make informed evaluations of impacts of dairy farm management practices on potential CH 4 emissions from fecal VS. Evaluation of initial model outputs led to on-farm data collection of the model inputs which influenced predicted fecal VS entering the liquid and solid manure handling systems. A key input limitation was lack of information on cattle fecal deposition locations within pens. Data collection used four dairy farms to measure time that cattle spent on concrete surfaces within day among season, as well as other model inputs. The final model, populated with collected data, showed that lactating cattle contribute the overwhelming proportion of fecal VS, 77% in the composite dairy farms, and that a composite freestall dairy farm had 65% of total fecal VS deposited on concrete annually with the remainder on drylot surfaces. In contrast, a composite drylot dairy farm had 37% of fecal VS deposited on concrete annually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Evaporation is a key component of the surface energy budget of liquid manure. Models rely on accurate energy budgets to predict manure temperature, which in turn is used to model emperature-dependent greenhouse gas emissions from liquid manure storages. Due to lack of data, it has been assumed that liquid manure has similar evaporative properties to water; however, this assumption may be inaccurate. Many factors, including manure crusting, covers, and turbidity, are all likely to affect the surface energy budget and the evaporation rate. This experiment investigated the differences in evaporation between eight treatments, including water, dyed water, raw and separated liquid manure, and four commonly used covers (straw, geotextile, foam, and roof), by measuring weekly evaporation. Albedo, surface temperatures, and internal temperatures were also measured to determine treatment effects. Over the 10-week study, no significant difference was found between the evaporation rates of water, raw manure, and separated liquid manure, with an average rate of 4.6 mm d-1. Notably, the raw manure did not form a consistent surface crust, which may explain the similarities in evaporation rates in this study and is unlikely to represent manure with a crust. Overall, covers significantly decreased evaporative losses by between 21% and 54% compared to uncovered raw manure. Average evaporation rates of the covered treatments were 1.9 mm d-1 for straw cover, 2.0 mm d-1 for foam cover, 2.9 mm d-1 for geotextile cover, and 3.4 mm d-1 under a roof cover. Similarities between each treatment and water as well as between the four covered treatments and the uncovered raw manure were found using linear regression on weekly evaporation. Generally, the uncovered treatments were more similar and could be predicted (high R2) by multiple linear regression with environmental variables, while the covered treatments differed more and were not as well predicted (lower R2). Results from this study can help adjust evaporation rates in biophysical models to improve estimates of manure temperature, tank holding capacity, and emission predictions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of pig slurry (PS) in fluid fertilizer formulation, for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply, consists of an innovative technology due to this waste reuse in the environment. The objective of this study was to assess the agronomic efficiency of fluid organomineral fertilizers with PS concerning solid and fluid forms of soluble minerals as a source of N and P in a Typic Quartzipsamment (Entisol) and Typic Hapludox (Oxisol). Two experiments were carried out in a greenhouse, with three sequential cultivations in a completely randomized design. Experiment 1: was composed of N and presented the treatments Without- Nitrogen (N-W), solid mineral (N-SM), fluid mineral (N-FM), and fluid with PS (N-FO). Experiment 2: was composed of P and presented the treatments Without-Phosphorus (P-W), solid mineral (P-SM), fluid mineral (P-FM), and fluid with PS (P-FO). The fertilizer N-FO presented a lower N use efficiency by crops in Entisol when compared to the granular fertilizer N-SM, but a higher efficiency in Oxisol. For phosphorus, the fertilizer P-FO was more efficient concerning the solid mineral source P-SM in both Oxisol and Entisol soils. Fluid organomineral fertilizer with PS demonstrated to be a promising source of N and P for crop fertilization, especially in sandy soils, however, more studies are needed with this fertilizer type and its effect on plants and into acid soils of variable charges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy systems are a source of pollutant emissions, such as greenhouse gases (GHG) and NH3 that are associated with impacts on the environment. Gas emissions in barns are related mainly to diet intake and chemical composition, N excretion and manure management. A reduction in dietary N is known to be an effective way to reduce N excretion and the resulting NH3 emissions. However, most studies consider manure in liquid form with frequent removal from the barn. In deep litter systems, several processes can occur during the accumulation of solid manure that result in variable gas emissions. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the influence of the interaction between dietary CP (low or high) and manure management (liquid or solid) on gas emissions (NH3, N2O, CH4) at the barn level. Dietary treatments provided either low (LowN ; 12% CP) or high (HighN ; 18% CP) degradable protein to modify the amount of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) excreted. The cows were housed for two 8-week periods in two mechanically ventilated rooms equipped to manage manure either in liquid (LM ; slurry) or solid form (SM ; deep litter). In the LM treatment, N balance was measured for 4 days. As expected, animals fed the LowN diet ingested 35% less N and excreted 65% less N in their urine, with no reduction in faecal N excretion and N secretion in milk. On the LowN diet, excretion of urea-N and NH3-N emissions were reduced regardless of the manure management. On the HighN diet, urinary urea-N excretion was three times as high, while NH3-N emissions were 3.0 and 4.5 times as high in LM and SM, respectively. Manure management strongly influenced CH4-C emissions, which were 30% higher in SM than in LM, due to the accumulation of litter. Moreover, gas emissions from solid manure increased over the accumulation period, except for NH3 on the LowN diet. Finally, our results suggest that methods used for national inventories would become more accurate by considering the variability in TAN excretion, which is the primary factor that influences NH3 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface applied liquid dairy manure application (i.e., broadcasting) after alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) harvest is a common practice. Low disturbance manure incorporation (LDMI) may offer multiple benefits including lower ammonia (NH3), greenhouse gas (GHG) and hydrologic nutrient losses compared to broadcast. However, few studies have simultaneously quantified LDMI impacts on alfalfa yield, NH3 and greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes. We measured NH3, nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) fluxes for liquid dairy manure treatments applied to alfalfa plots for broadcast and LDMI over three seasons (2014 to 2016) in central Wisconsin, USA. There were minor differences in alfalfa yield and nitrogen (N) uptake across treatments and years. Shallow disk injection and aerator/band reduced NH3 loss by 95 and 52% of broadcast, respectively, however both substantially increased N2O fluxes (6 and 4.5 kg ha−1 year−1 versus 3.6 kg ha−1 year−1 for broadcast, respectively). The magnitude and timing of N2O fluxes were related to manure application and precipitation events. Average CH4 fluxes were similar among methods and increased with soil moisture after manure application. Results highlight the importance of quantitatively evaluating agri-environmental tradeoffs of LDMI versus broadcast manure application for dairy farms.

The field experiment was carried out at The Experimental Station of Plant Varieties Protection in Szczecin Dąbie. The experiment aimed at evaluating the influence of slurry with and without increasing doses of PRP FIX preparation on some soil fertility indicators after test plants harvest. Contents of determined macronutrients in the soil were higher in objects where slurry was applied with addition of 8 kg or 12 kg of PRP FIX per 1 m3 as compared to those with exclusively mineral fertilization or slurry. The soil after test plants harvest contained more N, Corg., P, K, Mg, Ca, S, and available forms of P, K, Mg and SO3 in relation to levels before experiment establishment. In general, more soil fertility indicators were recorded in objects treated with the slurry along with PRP FIX preparation and additional PK nutrition (series II) as compared to series I. Differences in macronutrients in the soil due to the fertilization system applied were diverse, however they not always were significant.

Highlights • A volume model technique was developed for controlled liquid manure addition. • Swine effluent and small bulking material sizes enhanced organic matter degradation. • Liquid manure types influenced nutrients and heavy metals retention potentials. • Reduced leachate generation was achieved via optimized co-composting condition. Abstract This study was conducted to examine the effects of controlled addition of liquid (LM) to solid (SM) manure compost using a volume-model technique on the co-composting of SM and LM, and further to investigate the major effects of bulking material sizes and LM types on the co-composting process and final compost characteristics. Results indicated that this volume-model technique played a critical role in reducing leachate generation and improving the overall efficiency of the co-composting process. Specifically, the developed model enhanced the evaporation rates of windrows during the co-composting process. For improved final compost properties, small bulking materials and swine-effluent-based LM were found to be more efficient for organic matter degradation, LM consumption, hazardous metals immobilization, and essential nutrients retention than large bulking materials and biogas-based LM. Thus, process parameter optimizations represent major research options for successful co-composting applications for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Best management practices (BMPs) can mitigate erosion and nutrient runoff. We evaluated runoff losses for silage corn management systems using paired watershed fields in central Wisconsin. A two-year calibration period of fall-applied liquid dairy manure incorporated with chisel plow tillage (FMT) was followed by a three and a half-year treatment period. During the treatment period FMT was continued on one field, and three different systems on the others: (a) fall-applied manure and chisel tillage plus a vegetative buffer strip (BFMT); (b) a fall rye cover crop with spring manure application and chisel tillage (RSMT), both BMPs; a common system (c) fall manure application with spring chisel tillage (FMST). Year-round runoff monitoring included flow, suspended sediment (SS), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), ammonium (NH4+-N), nitrate, and total nitrogen (TN). Results showed BFMT reduced runoff SS, TP, and TN concentration and load compared to FMT. The RSMT system reduced concentrations of SS, TP, and TN, but not load because of increased runoff. The FMST practice increased TP, DRP, and NH4+-N loads by 39, 376, and 197%, respectively. While BMPs showed mitigation potential for SS, TN, and TP, none controlled DRP, suggesting additional practices may be needed in manured corn silage fields with high runoff potential.

With the extensive use of nitrogen-based fertilizer in agriculture, ammonia emissions, especially from cattle manure, are a serious environmental threat for soil and air. The European community committed to reduce the ammonia emissions by 30% by the year 2030 compared to 2005. After a moderate initial reduction, the last report showed no further improvements in the last four years, keeping the 30% reduction a very challenging target for the next decade. In this study, the mitigation effect of different types of tannin and tannin-based adsorbent on the ammonia emission from manure was investigated. Firstly, we conducted a template study monitoring the ammonia emissions registered by addition of the tannin-based powders to a 0.1% ammonia solution and then we repeated the experiments with ready-to-spread farm-made manure slurry. The results showed that all tannin-based powders induced sensible reduction of pH and ammonia emitted. Reductions higher than 75% and 95% were registered for ammonia solution and cattle slurry, respectively, when using flavonoid-based powders. These findings are very promising considering that tannins and their derivatives will be extensively available due to the increasing interest on their exploitation for the synthesis of new-generation “green” materials.

Notwithstanding the widespread use of natural and pre-exchanged zeolites for zootechnical effluent treatment, little attention has been dedicated to the variation in the chemical composition of the treated slurries, besides the effects on their NH4+ content. This paper aimed at elucidating the compositional variations in terms of major and trace elements of a raw pig-slurry (PS) after three sequential treatment cycles (TC) with three different grain sizes of natural and Na-exchanged zeolite-rich volcanic tuffs (natural ZTs and NaZTs). A series of laboratory batch experiments revealed that all ZTs had profoundly influenced the final PS chemical composition. As expected, the NaZTs were more efficient in terms of NH4+ removal than the natural ZTs, reaching almost 60% reduction of the initial content after three TCs. A parallel effect of this efficient removal was the remarkable increase in Na+. The Na-forms of ZTs led also to stronger competition with K+ ions, resulting in adsorption of this macronutrient and hence in a reduction of the fertilization value of the PS. In terms of heavy metals and other trace elements, all the treatments with ZTs had significantly increased the Li, Ba, Rb, Sr, Ga, and U content in the PS.

The aim of this study was to determine relationships between ammonia and hydrogen sulphide emissions and the type of manure storage, and correlations between emissions and Estonian climatic conditions. Total ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) emissions depend directly on the open area of manure storage. Of ring-shaped manure storage, with permanent roofing (H1, open area 3.9 m2), 2.7 kg NH3 and 0.02 kg H2S were emitted per year. Emissions from plastic lagoons (H4, open area 4100 m2) were 920 kg NH3 and 4.6 kg H2S per year. Emissions per animal unit (AU) per year from storage H1 were 14.6 g NH3 and 0.08 g H2S, and from storage H4 722.8 g NH3 and 3.65 g H2S. The emission of pollutants, per m2 of open area also depended on the depth of stored manure. The highest emissions were from the ring-shaped uncovered storage systems with high walls (H2), at 1.05 g m-2 24h-1. Emissions from ring-shaped uncovered storage with low walls (H3) was 25% smaller, 0.79 g m-2 24h-1, and from the manure lagoons (H4) 42% lower, 0.61 g m-2 24h-1. However the variation between storage systems was not significant (P > 0.05). Temperature (°C) had the greatest effect on increasing ammonia emission (r = 0.65***). The correlation between temperature and hydrogen sulphide emissions was not significant (r = 0.18). Relative humidity (%) had no effect to ammonia and hydrogen sulphide emission (r = 0.02 and 0.16 respectively).

Soybean yields could benefit from the use of improved varieties, nutrients and rhizobium inoculants. In this study we evaluated the influence of fertilization with liquid manure upon soybean yield in the 3rd experimental year, in climatic condition specific to the year 2016. The experiences were installed on Agricultural Research- Development Station Turda, on a chernozem soil. We followed the response of two soybean varieties to organic fertilization with liquid manure. In this regard we analyzed the number of nodules at the beginning and at the end of flowering and bean production. The results pointed out that in general Onix genotype recorded the highest values on bean production when 15 t/ha liquid manure were applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical model was developed to determine the year-round temperature distribution within liquid manure storages, which is relevant for modelling temperature-dependent greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions. The model considers net short and long-wave radiation, heat conduction through walls and floor, surface convective heat transfer, evaporative heat loss, and manure loading. The model was implemented and validated for a circular concrete storage tank (40 m diameter; 2.5 m depth) on a dairy farm in Ontario, Canada, where it is assumed that heat transfer occurs in horizontal and vertical directions, and is symmetric in the angular direction. Annual root mean square error (RMSE), Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency, coefficient of determination, and average bias between model estimates and measured values were 2.4 °C, 0.91, 0.95, and 0.12 °C, respectively. The model performed best in summer and autumn (lowest RMSE), which are the most important seasons for modelling temperature, as both temperature and manure volume are highest, leading to the greatest opportunity for gaseous emissions. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the most significant parameters were solar absorptivity, manure depth, incoming manure temperature, emissivity, and wind-speed. For every unit increase in depth (m), incoming manure temperature (°C), or wind-speed (m s −1 ), the peak summer temperature changed by −7.3, 0.3, or −2.4 °C, respectively. Parameters with little effect on temperature were the manure solids content and thermal conductivity of soil around the sides and the bottom of the tank. Results show that heat transfer is primarily 1-dimensional, and a simplified 1-D model would be sufficient for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field experiment was carried out at The Experimental Station of Plant Varieties Protection in Szczecin Dąbie. The experiment aimed at evaluating the influence of slurry with and without increasing doses of PRP FIX preparation on some soil fertility indicators after test plants harvest. The contents of determined macronutrients in the soil were higher in objects where slurry was applied with addition of 8 kg or 12 kg of PRP FIX per 1 m3 as compared to those with exclusively mineral fertilization or slurry. The soil after test plants harvest contained more N, Corg., P, K, Mg, Ca, S, and available forms of P, K, Mg and SO3, in relation to levels before experiment establishment. In general, more soil fertility indicators were recorded in objects treated with the slurry along with PRP FIX preparation and additional PK nutrition (series II) as compared to series I. Differences in macronutrients in the soil due to the fertilization system applied were diverse, however, they not always were significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers are looking for better management practices to utilize animal manure as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to study the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer source and application methods to Nicholson silt loam soil in central Kentucky, USA for no-till corn (Zea mays) production. The region has a temperate climate with a mean temperature of 14.5°C and rainfall of 1300 mm year−1. Treatments included a control, 179 kg N ha−1urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) applied as preplant and sidedress, and swine effluent that was applied by three methods: broadcast, injection, and Aerway. Injection method produced the greatest corn grain yield (11.88 Mg ha−1) and biomass yield (18.9 Mg ha−1) in 2007. Results demonstrated that the effluent application methods and the timing of UAN application may not be agronomically important for corn production in this region. Hence, more studies are needed on different soils in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess ammonia (NH3) emitted from animal feeding operations (AFOs) are considered a source of odor and some environmental pollution. Gas-permeable membranes (GPMs) provide a new solution for reducing NH3 concentration in total ammoniacal nitrogen sources and recovering it in an acidic solution which results in decreasing NH3 emissions to the environment. This study assessed the efficacy of NH3 capture from liquid dairy manure (LM), NH3 mass flux and its mass transfer coefficient (Km) for diffusion into a tubular GPM. Three bench-scale test rigs were fabricated to vary surface areas of LM in closed chambers. A sulfuric acid solution was circulated through the GPM system, submerged in all LM chambers and also in the headspace of one of the chambers, above the LM. The experiment with nearly 3:1 LM to GPM surface area ratio had the greatest Km and recovered the most concentrated ammonium sulfate in the acidic solution. For the same experiment, one cm² of GPM extracted nearly 50% of NH3 in 18 d from 3 cm² surface area of LM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In northwestern Germany slurry injection below maize ( Zea mays L.) seeds is gaining increasing interest of farmers, because of the expected enhanced nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use efficiencies compared to the usual fertilizing practice. The present study aims to compare the spatial and temporal soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) dynamics for these fertilizing strategies. Field trials with four treatments (unfertilized control, broadcast application + N P mineral starter fertilizer (+MSF), injection and injection + nitrification inhibitor (NI)) were conducted using pig slurry on sandy soil in 2014 and 2015. Soil samples were taken from three soil layers at 30 cm intervals down to 90 cm, and at three positions (below the maize row, 15 and 30 cm distance to the row) at several dates over the growing season. Soil monoliths (15 × 15 × 10 cm) were sampled around the injection zone, and for all other soil zones an auger was used. In 2014 due to heavy rainfall all fertilized N was displaced from the top soil layer of the broadcast treatment until 6-leaf stage, while N displacement was significantly smaller after slurry injection (about 20 kg SMN ha more in top layer). The lateral movement of injected slurry N was negligible. In 2015 almost no displacement of fertilized N out of the top soil layer occurred independently of treatments, because of lower rainfall. The release of slurry N was delayed following broadcast application and large SMN concentrations were detected in the injection zones until 10-leaf stage. The addition of a NI resulted in significantly increased ammonium N concentrations in the injection zone throughout the early growth stages [+46 % (2014) and +12 % (2015) at 6-leaf stage]. Thus, N displacement was delayed in 2014 and in 2015 at 6-leaf stage increased SMN concentrations (+1/3 with NI) were found around the slurry band. Due to slurry injection, especially when combined with a nitrification inhibitor, the applied nitrogen is located in a soil zone with better spatial availability for plant roots compared to broadcast application and the risk of nitrate leaching is significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]