Effect of moisture content and ambient temperature on the gaseous nitrogen loss from stored laying hen manure

Abstract

1. The objectives of this study were to compare the effect of 4 storage temperatures (15·3, 18·5, 21·9 and 25·4°C) and three moisture contents of laying hen manure (722, 752 and 796 g/kg) on the rate of nitrogen loss and manure decomposition characteristics over a 10-d storage. 2. The rate of loss of dry matter, nitrogen and water increased linearly with increased ambient storage temperature. The initial moisture content had a non-linear effect on the rate of loss nitrogen and moisture. The greatest rate of loss of nitrogen and lowest loss of water occurred in the intermediate manure moisture treatment. 3. There was a temperature × manure moisture interaction with a large increase in the rate of nitrogen loss of the intermediate manure moisture samples when they were stored at the highest temperature. 4. This experiment quantified the marked effect that relatively small changes in manure moisture and storage temperature can have on gaseous nitrogen losses.