Characteristics of Ammonia Emissions from Trough Composting of Swine Manure Biogas Residue and Corn Cob

Fertility assessment and nutrient conversion of hydrochars derived from co-hydrothermal carbonization between livestock manure and corn cob

<abstract> <b><sc>Abstract.</sc></b> Biofiltration is a proven method to reduce odor and gas emissions from swine buildings and manure storage units. Biofilter media selection and moisture content fluctuations significantly influence biofilter performance. The purpose of this study was to test corn cobs as an alternative biofilter media because wood chips may become less available in the future due to the spread of emerald ash borer disease. In addition, a naturally occurring adsorbent (diatomaceous shale) was tested as an additive to manage biofilter media moisture content. Five 1 m x 1 m x 1 m biofilter cells were built to treat pit fan exhaust air from a swine finishing barn. A semi-continuous sampling system was used to measure the biofilters‘ inlet and outlet gas concentrations. Results showed that all of the biofilters were effective, reducing H₂S emissions on average by 7.3% to 50.1% and reducing NH₃ emissions on average by 9.8% to 86.3%. The corn cobs were less dense and more porous than the wood chips and had lower pressure drop per unit depth. Adding 15% diatomaceous shale to the corn cobs helped manage media moisture and improved H₂S and NH₃ reduction efficiencies. However, after 16 months of media aging, high levels of N₂O generation were observed during two sampling days. The estimated media cost with 15% diatomaceous shale was $0.52 per m³ h^-1 ($0.89 per cfm) of air treated. The corn cobs cost (100% corn cob biofilter) was $0.03 per m³ h^-1 ($0.05 per cfm) of air treated.

Sustainability, circular economy and alternative production systems are urgent imperatives for humanity and animal husbandry. Unless wasted, agri-food by-products can offer a promising source of high value. We evaluated the effect of rice bran (RB), corncob (CC), potato peels (PP), solid biogas residues (BR), and olive-oil processing residuals (OR), as alternative substrates to wheat bran (WB as control), on the growth and nutritional value of Tenebrio molitor during its breeding for animal feeds and/or human consumption. Innovation-wise, we further investigated the substrate supplementation (0, 10, 20%) with post-distillation residues of Mediterranean aromatic-medicinal plants (MAPs: lavender, Greek oregano, rosemary, olive; 1:1:1:1 ratio). Tenebrio molitor larvae (TML) were reared in all the studied substrates, and TML and diets’ proximate and fatty acid compositions as well as total phenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant potential were assessed using standard procedures. After statistical analysis of correlations, we observed that CC promoted oviposition and progeny survival; larval weight and dry matter were positively affected mainly by dietary energy and fat content; number of TML and/or larval weight increased using 10% MAPs inclusion in WB, RB and OR or RB, OR, BR and PP, respectively, which did not affect protein content; TML fatty acid composition decreased the content of saturated ones and increased that of mono-unsaturated ones; MAPs residues had an apparent favorable impact on total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of each substrate, with RB displaying the highest capacity and content. These findings indicate that alternative substrates can be exploited and their enrichment with natural phenolics is able to influence T. molitor growth, offering highly beneficial and nutritional value.

Different characteristics of greenhouse gases and ammonia emissions from conventional stored dairy cattle and swine manure in China

The presence of Alicyclobacillus, a thermoacidophilic and spore-forming bacterium, in acidic fruit juices poses a serious problem for the processing industry. A typical sign of spoilage in contaminated juices is a characteristic phenolic off-flavour associated with the production of guaiacol. Spores are formed in response to starvation and in a natural environment re-access the nutrients, e.g.: L-alanine and AGFK - a mixture of asparagine, glucose, fructose and potassium, triggers germination. The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of L-alanine and AGFK on the germination of the spores of two Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris strains and to evaluate the relationship of the germination rate with dipicolinic acid (DPA) release. The spores were suspended in apple juice or in buffers at pH 4 and pH 7, followed by the addition of L-alanine and AGFK. Suspensions were or were not subjected, to a temperature of 80°C/10 min and incubated for various periods of time at 45°C. Optical density (OD660) was used to estimate the number of germinated spores. The amount of DPA released was determined using HPLC. The results indicate that the degree of germination of A. acidoterrestris spores depended on the strain and time of incubation and the nutritious compounds used. The data obtained show that the amount of DPA released correlated to the number of A. acidoterrestris spores germinated.

According to activity level data of various ammonia emission sources in Jiangsu Province, using a reasonable inventory calculation method and emission factor, an ammonia emission inventory in Jiangsu Province from 2013 to 2017 was established, and the trend of anthropogenic ammonia emissions over these years was analyzed. The distribution characteristics of anthropogenic ammonia emissions and emission intensity in Jiangsu Province were analyzed using ArcGIS software. The results showed that the ammonia emissions in Jiangsu Province decreased from 624.84 kt in 2013 to 562.47 kt in 2017 with an average annual rate of decline of approximately 2.6%. Agricultural has always been the most important source of ammonia emissions in Jiangsu Province and accounted for 82.4% of the total ammonia emissions in 2017. Laying hens are the largest source of ammonia emissions from livestock and poultry sources, accounting for 49.3% of the ammonia emissions from livestock and poultry. The average ammonia emission intensity in Jiangsu Province was 5.3 t·km-2 in 2017. Yancheng and Xuzhou are two cities with the largest anthropogenic ammonia emissions and emission intensity in Jiangsu Province. Zhenjiang City has the lowest ammonia emission and emission intensity.

This study was conducted to evaluate (i) the characteristics of ammonia gas emissions from soybean cultivation soils amended with varying levels of urea and soil water, and (ii) the rate of reduction in ammonia emissions that could be obtained by applying mixed microorganisms (MM) to the urea-treated soils. The ammonia gas emissions from all treatments except the control were highest on day 2 of a laboratory-scale experiment and decreased gradually thereafter. The ammonia gas emissions from the soils increased with increasing urea and soil water contents. However, there were less emissions from soils treated with MM than those from the urea only treatment, and emissions also decreased significantly as the concentration of MM increased. In a field-scale experiment, the total cumulative emissions of ammonia from soil treated with a combination of chemical fertilizers and MM was reduced to 85.8% of that from the soil treated with chemical fertilizers only. Although we infer that MM can be used as an agent to reduce ammonia gas emissions from actual soils used for soybean cultivation, our knowledge of the processes involved in reducing ammonia emissions using microbial treatment is still limited. Consequently, further studies are required to investigate the efficient control of ammonia gas emissions from agricultural soils through the application of microorganisms.

As ammonia is the main component of PM2.5, long time series of ammonia emission characteristics are an important basis for studying the historical causes of PM2.5 pollution. In this study, the activity data of various anthropogenic ammonia emissions from 11 cities were collected in Zhejiang. The anthropogenic ammonia emissions inventory in Zhejiang was established using emission factors, and then a 1 km×1 km spatial grid distribution was carried out using ArcGIS software. The results showed that from 2008 to 2018, the ammonia emissions from anthropogenic sources in Zhejiang exhibited a downward trend, with an average annual decline rate of approximately 3.97%. The ammonia emissions were 108.52 kt in 2018, and the emission intensity was 1.03 t·km-2, in which there was 90.02 kt from agricultural sources and 18.50 kt from non-agricultural sources. The ammonia emissions of Hangzhou, Jiaxing, and Wenzhou were higher than those of the other cities, accounting for 14.72%, 11.86%, and 11.80% of the total ammonia emissions, respectively. The spatial distribution characteristics showed that ammonia emissions were mainly distributed in the northern part of Zhejiang, showing an emission trend of "high in the north and low in the south." Uncertainty analysis showed that the simulated average value of ammonia emissions was 108.37 kt, and the uncertainty range in the 95% confidence interval was -5.40%-5.60%.

Pig farming is considered one of the activities with the greatest environmental impact due to the erroneous disposal of swine waste. The present work aimed to produce an organic compost using waste from pig production and evaluate its chemical characteristic, corn yield under doses of this organic compost and soil nutritional quality before and after the experiment implementation. The Corn was fertilized at sowing and 30 days after plant germination using organic compost from pig waste at the doses: 0, 2, 3, 4 and 5 t ha-1. The Corn used was CATIVERDE 02 and were seeded at 1.0 m spacing between rows and 0.40 m between plants, in a total area of 240 m2. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications and five doses of organic compost. The parameters evaluated for corn were: plant height, stem diameter, weight and corncob length. Fertilization with swine organic compost increases in soil P, K, Ca, even after the corn harvest. The best treatment was with a dose of 5 t ha-1, as it resulted in higher plant height (1.85 m) and corn cob weight (261 g).

Abstract. Ammonia has attracted significant attention due to its pivotal role in the ecosystem and its contribution to the formation of secondary aerosols. Developing an accurate ammonia emission inventory is crucial for simulating atmospheric ammonia levels and quantifying its impacts. However, current inventories are typically constructed via the bottom-up approach and are associated with substantial uncertainties. To address this issue, assimilating observations from satellite instruments for top-down emission inversion has emerged as an effective strategy for optimizing emission inventories. Despite the severity of ammonia pollution in South Asia, research in this context remains very limited. This study aims to estimate ammonia emissions in this region by integrating the prior emission inventory from the Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) and the columned ammonia concentration retrievals from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounder Interferometer (IASI). We employ a newly developed four-dimensional ensemble variational (4DEnVar)-based emission inversion system to conduct the calculations, resulting in monthly ammonia emissions for 2019 at a resolution of 0.5° × 0.625°. The annual total estimate for the posterior emission inventory is 12.61 Tg, compared to the prior inventory's 13.32 Tg. Our simulations, driven by the posterior emission inventory, demonstrate superior performance compared to those driven by the prior emission inventory. This performance is validated through comparisons against the IASI observations, the independent column concentration measurements from the advanced satellite instrument Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and the ground concentration observations of ammonia and PM2.5. Additionally, the spatial and temporal characteristics of ammonia emissions in South Asia based on the posterior inventory are analyzed. Notably, emissions there exhibit a “double-peak” seasonal profile, with the maximum in July and the secondary peak in May. This observation differs from the “double-peak” trend suggested by the CEDS prior inventory, which identifies the maximum column concentration in May and a second peak in September. The differences may be attributed to a more accurate representation of regional agricultural practices, such as the timing of fertilizer application and meteorological influences like precipitation and temperature.

Although ammonia emissions are not as huge as carbon and methane emissions, they pose significant threats to ensuring environmental sustainability and productivity. However, the existing literature has paid less attention to the underlying characteristics of ammonia emissions. The chief target of this study is to investigate the stochastic convergence of ammonia emissions at the aggregate level, by sector, and by fuel source in 37 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries for more than two centuries of data. Using a newly proposed Fourier-augmented wavelet unit root test, the empirical findings reveal that the relative ammonia emissions series in most Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries follow the unit root process in the aggregate, sectoral, and fuel-specific analyses. Therefore, these findings refer to the existence of divergence, while stochastic convergence does not exist in most cases. Having a divergent pattern of ammonia emissions has several policy implications for policymakers in the context of environmental sustainability. (i) Relative ammonia emission cannot revert to its steady-state path without policy intervention, (ii) policymakers have a chance of affecting the dynamics of ammonia emissions in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. (iii) As a policy response, the study recommends the pursuant of national environmental policies with consideration to the unique characteristics of the individual countries as the non-existence of convergence of environmental series could result in a diverse level of consciousness of environmental degradation among countries with divergent patterns on emissions levels.

Biogas residues (BGR) contain a variety of plant nutrients and are, therefore, valuable fertilizers. However, ammonia (NH3) emissions occur during slurry and BGR application. These emissions can be reduced by lowering the pH of the BGR. Acidification technology works well for slurry, but little is known about the effects on fertilizer properties of acidified BGR (ABGR). This study aimed to examine the impact of acidification on the chemical composition of BGR and its influence on plant growth of juvenile maize and the soil pH, as well as the soluble soil phosphorous (P) and manganese (Mn), after application of ABGR. The soluble amount of nutrients in BGR was compared with that in ABGR. In an outdoor pot experiment, BGR and ABGR were incorporated in soil, and maize was grown for 8 weeks. Two different BGR P levels were compared with (NH4)2HPO4 and a control treatment without additional P. BGR acidification increased dissolved amounts of P from 15% to 44%, calcium from 6% to 59%, magnesium from 7% to 37%, and Mn from 2% to 15%. The dry matter of ABGR-fertilized maize was 34%, 45% higher than that of BGR-fertilized maize. The soluble Mn content in the soil was 74% higher with the low ABGR dose and 222% higher with the higher ABGR dose than the BGR treatments. The fertilizer efficiency of ABGR was higher than that of BGR, indicating that the absolute amount of applied fertilizer could be reduced in systems using ABGR.

Methane (CH4) emissions from rice fields were determined using automated measurement systems in China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Mitigation options were assessed separately for different baseline practices of irrigated rice, rainfed, and deepwater rice. Irrigated rice is the largest source of CH4 and also offers the most options to modify crop management for reducing these emissions. Optimizing irrigation patterns by additional drainage periods in the field or an early timing of midseason drainage accounted for 7–80% of CH4 emissions of the respective baseline practice. In baseline practices with high organic amendments, use of compost (58–63%), biogas residues (10–16%), and direct wet seeding (16–22%) should be considered mitigation options. In baseline practices using prilled urea as sole N source, use of ammonium sulfate could reduce CH4 emission by 10–67%. In all rice ecosystems, CH4 emissions can be reduced by fallow incorporation (11%) and mulching (11%) of rice straw as well as addition of phosphogypsum (9–73%). However, in rainfed and deepwater rice, mitigation options are very limited in both number and potential gains. The assessment of these crop management options includes their total factor productivity and possible adverse effects. Due to higher nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, changes in water regime are only recommended for rice systems with high baseline emissions of CH4. Key objectives of future research are identifying and characterizing high-emitting rice systems, developing site-specific technology packages, ascertaining synergies with productivity, and accounting for N2O emissions.

A three-dimensional sampling grid using passive collectors was used to characterize the downwind gas-phase ammonia plumes originating from a commercial chicken house on the Delmarva Peninsula in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Inverse Gaussian plume modeling was used to determine the source strength of the chicken house and the corresponding chicken emission factors. A total of seven field deployments were performed during two different flocks with a sampling duration ranging from 6 to 12.6 h. The deployments occurred during weeks 3, 4, and 5 of the 6-week chicken grow-out period in the months of May-July 2002. The ammonia emission factors ranged from 0.27 to 2.17 g of NH3-N bird(-1) day(-1) with a mean of 1.18 g of NH3-N bird(-1) day(-1). Weighted emissions factors that accounted for the nonlinear increase in ammonia emissions over the 6-week grow-out period were also calculated and ranged from 0.14 to 1.65 g of NH3-N bird(-1) day(-1) with a mean of 0.74 g of NH3-N bird(-1) day(-1). These weighted emission values would correspond to an annual release of approximately 18 x 10(6) kg of NH3-N to the atmosphere from broiler production on the Delmarva Peninsula. This assumes that the emission factors in this study are representative for the entire year with varying meteorological conditions and are representative of all chicken husbandry practices. The Delmarva Peninsula could represent a significant source of nutrient nitrogen to the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay watersheds through atmospheric deposition when considering the size of this annual release rate, the relative short atmospheric lifetime of ammonia due to deposition, and the proximity of the Delmarva Peninsula to the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.

Animal agriculture is a major source of atmospheric pollutants, but the nature and dispersion of those pollutants are not well understood. Additionally, little data is available on the vertical profile of emissions since few studies have looked at emissions above 10 m. The aim of this study was to quantify emissions of ammonia, ammonium, nitric acid, methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide from dairy systems, and characterize the spatial, and seasonal variability of those emissions. Using a unique mobile sampling methodology employing helium balloons, filter packs, syringe pumps and a tethersonde meteorological sampling system, gases and particulates were measured at five heights at three locations downwind and one location upwind of two dairies. This innovative technique provided a spatially resolved characterization of the emission plume. Measurements were made seasonally at two dairies from 2005 to 2006. Results show that the concentration of each species varied vertically and seasonally, and that each dairy had its own distinct profiles. Seasonally, the greenhouse gases had maximum concentrations in the winter months, while ammonia was highest in the summer. Despite differences between the two diaries, maximum concentrations were commonly found at or near ground level (2 m) indicating a strong emission source from the dairy. Above 2 m, ammonia exhibited the most consistent vertical profile, which steadily decreased with height (P = 0.04) up to 35 m. This study characterized the seasonal and spatial variability of emissions from two dairy operations, which are important considerations when measuring and modeling gaseous emissions for scientific or regulatory purposes.