Manure storage

Emissions of CH4 due to manure storage, which are fimctions of sforage time and temperature, averaged 4.5 kg CH4 m with slurry storage twice that of stacked storage (Chianese et ah, 2009a). Manure applied to cropland also provides a source of CH4 emissions but typically disappears after a few days (Sherlock et ah, 2002). 

Long-term manure storage is a less significant source of CO2 emissions through aerobic bacteria activity in the manure. CO2 emissions were reported to average 59 kg CO2 m year (Chianese et al., 2009a), although data were reportedly scarce. 

Three of five men, who lost consciousness within a few minutes of entering a partially drained underground liquid manure storage tank, died before reaching the hospital autopsy showed that two had massive liquid manure pulmonary aspiration, while the third had fulminant pulmonary edema without manure aspiration (Osbem and Crapo 1981). Markedly elevated heart-blood sulfide-ion levels indicated significant hydrogen sulfide exposure. Air samples analyzed about a week after the accident detected only 76 ppm of hydrogen sulfide, but the study authors noted that the environmental conditions were probably different (e g., warmer weather, less-concentrated manure). 

Workers employed at facilities that manufacture or use hydrogen sulfide in the production process are especially prone to exposure. Such industries include the manufacture of rayon textiles, lubricants, pulp and paper, and sulfuric acid and inorganic sulfides. Workers in facilities where hydrogen sulfide is produced as a byproduct, such as farms with manure storage pits, petroleum or natural gas drilling operations, landfills, and waste-water treatment plants, may also be exposed to high levels. 

During the composting process much moisture is evaporated and a slight smell of ammonia is perceptible. After a successful spontaneous heating process has taken place, manure is obtained with a dry-matter content of at least 55%. This manure is suitable for transport and storage in the open air and can be easily applied by means of conventional manure spreaders. The minimum manure-storage requirement is not less than a 6 weeks capacity, a hardened floor and a roof. 

Fig. 3 Roofed-over manure storage where further drying takes place by means of spontaneous heating...

Fig. 4 House with manure drying and roofed-over manure storage...

For this two reasons we experimented with a biological airwasher and a pilot biobed by this manure storage to reduce ammonia and odour in the first place ammonia for there has been damage to crops from this storage. 

Movement of pathogens from manure storages or manure or biosolids-fertilized cropland to surface or groundwater can be a significant source of contamination of water that may be used for irrigation purposes (Berry et al., 2007 Hill et al., 2005 Muirhead et al., 2006). This can occur as the result of over application of liquid manures or biosolids, but more commonly occurs in response to heavy rainfall shortly following manure or biosolids application (Muirhead et al., 2006). Potential also exists for rainfall-induced surface transport from treated cropland directly to fruit and vegetable fields. 

Nicholson, F. A., Groves, S. J., and Chambers, B. J. (2005). Pathogen survival during livestock manure storage and following land application. Bioresource Technol. 96,135-143. 

Pathogen levels can decline during manure storage, particularly if solid manure is actively composted to increase the temperature of the heap (Kudva et al. 1998, Himathongkham et al. 1999, Nicholson et al. 2002). Thus, it might be concluded that biodynamic farming provides a lesser risk because manures are more often composted. So far, there are no data to prove this, but research is on-going (Shepherd et al. 2003). 

Differences in dietary N intake and N excretion, housing system and period, manure storage and spreading, and livestock density will affect the amount volatilised (Stolze et al. 2000). Since organic systems operate at a lower level of intensity, NH, losses may be lower too. 

Point sources, i.e. animal houses, manure storages and slurry lakes (e.g. [17])... 

Applying the parameterisation in Eq. (1) together with the simplified functions shown in Fig. 1, the temporal variation in NH3 emissions may be simulated with good results. Figure 2 shows as an example of calculated temporal variation in NH3 emission from a pig stable, cattle bam and manure storage. It is easily seen that the variation reflects the differences described in the previous section. 

Fig. 2 Simulations of ammonia emission for open and isolated stables and manure storage using hourly meteorological input of temperature and wind speed. All time series were created by using meteorological data for the year 2007 and the emission model available at http //www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/5221/2011/acp-l 1-5221-201 l.html [48]...

Muck RE, Steenhuis TS (1982) Nitrogen losses from manure storages. Agric Wastes 4 41-54... 

Langland M. 1992. Atmospheric deposition of ammonia from open manure-storage lagoons in south-central Pennsylvania. Environ Professional 14 28-37. 

Where releases into manure storage are possible. 

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