Methane Emissions from Livestock Slurry: Effects of Storage Temperature and Changes in Chemical Composition

Julio E. Hilgert (), Barbara Amon, Thomas Amon, Vitaly Belik, Federico Dragoni, Christian Ammon, Aura Cárdenas, Søren O. Petersen and Christiane Herrmann
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Julio E. Hilgert: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag 7–13, 14163 Berlin, Germany
Barbara Amon: Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy e.V. (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Thomas Amon: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag 7–13, 14163 Berlin, Germany
Vitaly Belik: System Modeling Group, Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Federico Dragoni: Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy e.V. (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Christian Ammon: Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy e.V. (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Aura Cárdenas: Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy e.V. (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Søren O. Petersen: Department of Agroecology, iClimate, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
Christiane Herrmann: Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy e.V. (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: Livestock production contributes to releasing methane into the atmosphere. Liquid manure management offers significant opportunities to reduce these emissions. A better understanding of the factors controlling methane emissions from manure is necessary to select effective mitigation strategies. Our study aimed to identify the influence of storage temperature and the associated change in chemical composition on methane emissions from dairy and fattening pig manure. Storage temperature affects microbial activity and induces changes in chemical composition that are key influences in methane emissions. Dairy and fattening pig manure samples were stored at five different temperatures (5–25 °C) for 90 days in a laboratory-scale experiment to measure the methane production. The chemical composition of the slurry samples was analyzed, and the biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests were performed before and after storage. For pig manure stored at 25 °C and 20 °C, methane emissions accounted for 69.3% and 50.3% of the BMP, respectively. Maximum methane emissions for dairy slurry were observed at 25 °C but remained at a low level. Analyses of the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during storage are presented in few studies, this work revealed a potential inhibition of methane production, where the accumulation of VFAs was most elevated in samples stored at 20 °C and 25 °C. This partly counteracted the increase in methane emissions expected from the higher temperatures. The degree of VFA and dissociated fatty acids accumulation in dairy cattle slurry should be assessed for more accurate estimations of methane emissions from slurry stores.

Keywords: GHG emissions; manure management; pig manure storage; dairy manure storage; biochemical methane potential (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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