Preliminary Results on the Use of Straw Cover and Effective Microorganisms for Mitigating GHG and Ammonia Emissions in Pig Slurry Storage Systems

Martire Angélica Terrero Turbí (), Melisa Gómez-Garrido, Oumaima El Bied, José Gregorio Cuevas Bencosme and Ángel Faz Cano
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Martire Angélica Terrero Turbí: Sustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Agronomic Engineering Department, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
Melisa Gómez-Garrido: Sustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Agronomic Engineering Department, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
Oumaima El Bied: Sustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Agronomic Engineering Department, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
José Gregorio Cuevas Bencosme: Sustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Agronomic Engineering Department, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
Ángel Faz Cano: Sustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Agronomic Engineering Department, Technical University of Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: Spain has been the largest pork producer in the EU in recent years, leading to significant pig slurry (PS) production that requires proper management to prevent environmental impacts. The objectives of this study were to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia emissions and to characterize the PS in storage pond systems. A straw cover pond (SP) and addition of effective microorganisms (EMs) in a biological pond (BP) were used to treat the slurries. During two periods (autumn and spring), PS was characterized and GHG (CO 2 , CH 4 , N 2 O) and NH 3 emissions were measured with a dynamic chamber. After 5 weeks of storage, BP achieved a reduction of 96% for CO 2 , 98% for CH 4 and 59% for NH 3 compared to the control pond (CP) in spring, while SP presented a 74% reduction for CO 2 in autumn, and 60% and 97% reductions for CH 4 and NH 3 , respectively, in spring. Additionally, the PS samples showed a decreasing trend for EC, dry matter, COD, BOD 5 , total N, NH 4 + -N, Org.-N, NO 3 − -N, and PO 4 3− during both seasons. This preliminary study shows promise in reducing GHG/NH 3 emissions and improving PS properties, but further replication is recommended. Varying straw cover thickness, optimizing EM dose, and a pH reduction may enhance outcomes.

Keywords: GHG emission; ammonia; pig slurry storage; emission-mitigation techniques; straw cover; effective microorganism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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