Estimating the potential for ammonia emissions from livestock excreta and manures

Abstract

This paper reports a desk study to quantify the total-nitrogen (N) and ammoniacal-N contents of livestock excreta, and to compare them with estimates of N losses to the environment from that excreta. Inventories of ammonia (NH 3), nitrous oxide (N 2O), dinitrogen (N 2), and nitric oxide emissions (NO), together with estimates of nitrate (NO 3 −) leaching and crop N uptake were collated. A balance sheet was constructed to determine whether our estimates of N in livestock excreta were consistent with current estimates of N losses and crop N uptake from that N, or whether emissions of N compounds from livestock excreta may have been underestimated. Total N excretion by livestock in England and Wales (E&W) was estimated as 767–816×10 3 t of which 487–518×10 3 t was estimated to be total ammoniacal-N (TAN). Estimates of NH 3 and N 2O losses during housing and storage were derived from the difference between the total amount of TAN in excreta deposited in and around buildings, and the total amount of TAN in manure (i.e. the excreta deposited in and around buildings after collection and storage) prior to spreading and were ca. 64–88×10 3 t. The NH 3-N emission from livestock buildings and manure storage in E&W quoted in the UK Emission Inventory (Pain et al., 1999. Inventory of Ammonia Emission from UK Agriculture, 1977. Report of MAFF contract WAO630, IGER, North Wyke) is ca. 80×10 3 t. Losses from NO 3 − leaching in the season after manure application and grazing were estimated as 73 and 32×10 3 t, respectively. Other gaseous losses of N were estimated as ca. 54×10 3 t. Crop uptake of manure N was estimated to be between 7 and 24×10 3 t. For manures, estimated N losses, immobilization and crop uptake total 326×10 3 t compared with estimates of 293–319×10 3 t TAN in excreta. Total N losses and crop uptake from TAN deposited at grazing were estimated to be 179–199×10 3 t compared with ca. 224×10 3 t TAN excreted. Thus all the TAN in manures appears to be accounted for, but ca. 25–45×10 3 t of TAN in urine deposited at grazing were not, and could be an underestimated source of gaseous emission or nitrate leaching.