The Effect of Untreated and Acidified Biochar on NH 3 -N Emissions from Slurry Digestate

Pavel Covali, Henn Raave, Jordi Escuer-Gatius, Allan Kaasik, Tõnu Tõnutare and Alar Astover
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Pavel Covali: Chair of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Henn Raave: Chair of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Jordi Escuer-Gatius: Chair of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Allan Kaasik: Chair of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Tõnu Tõnutare: Chair of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Alar Astover: Chair of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51006 Tartu, Estonia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: The development of new options to reduce ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions during slurry manure storage is still required due to the shortcomings of the current technologies. This study aimed to identify to what extent untreated and acid-treated biochar (BC) and pure acids could reduce ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) volatilization and increase nitrogen retention in slurry digestate. The NH 3 -N emissions were effectively reduced by H 2 SO 4 and H 3 PO 4 acids, untreated BC when applied mixed into the digestate and acidified BC treatments applied on the surface of the digestate. Acidification increased the specific surface area and number of O-containing surface functional groups of the BC and decreased the pH, alkalinity and the hydrophobic property. Compared to untreated BC, the ability of BC to reduce NH 3 -N emissions was greater when it was acidified with H 2 SO 4 and applied to the digestate surface. The effect on digestate pH of acidified BC when applied mixed into the digestate was not different, except for H 2 O 2 , from that of the addition of the respective pure acid to digestate. The total N concentration in digestate was not significantly correlated with NH 3 -N emissions. These findings indicate that acidified BC could be an effective conditioner to reduce NH 3 -N emissions from slurry digestate storage.

Keywords: biochar; slurry digestate; NH 3 -N emissions reduction; biochar acidification; digestate N concentration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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