Abstract
Lignite amendment of livestock manure is considered a viable ammonia (NH3) emission mitigation technique. However, its impact on the subsequent composting of the manure has not been well studied. This work compared changes in biochemical parameters (e.g., organic matter loss and nitrogen (N) transformation) and also the emissions of NH3 and greenhouse gases (GHGs) between lignite-amended and unamended cattle manure during forced aeration composting. Amending manure with lignite did not alter the time to compost stability despite delaying the onset of the thermophilic temperatures. Lignite treatments retained N in the manure by suppressing NH3 loss by 35–54%, resulting in lignite-amended manure composts having 10–19% more total N than the unamended compost. Relative to manure only, lignites reduced GHG emissions over the composting period: nitrous oxide (N2O) (58–72%), carbon dioxide (CO2) (12–23%) and methane (CH4) (52–59%). Low levels of CH4 and N2O emissions were observed and this was attributed to the continuous forced aeration system used in the composting. Lignite addition also improved the germination index of the final compost: 90–113% compared to 71% for manure only. These findings suggest that lignite amendment of manure has the potential to improve the quality of the final compost whilst mitigating the environmental release of NH3 and GHGs.
Highlights
The desire for efficient and improved livestock production technologies, driven by increasing global population and the demand for animal products, has stimulated the expansion of intensive livestock production systems [1,2]
Other mitigation techniques involve the reduction in dietary crude protein [13] and manure compaction and covering [14]
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of lignite amendment on cattle manure composting and the quality of the final compost by assessing (i) changes in biochemical parameters, (ii) greenhouse gases (GHGs) and NH3 emissions, and (iii) compost stability indices
Summary
The desire for efficient and improved livestock production technologies, driven by increasing global population and the demand for animal products, has stimulated the expansion of intensive livestock production systems [1,2] These intensive systems are characterised by the generation and accumulation of large volumes of manure, often in excess of the fertiliser requirement of nearby agricultural fields [3,4]. A number of mitigation techniques have been shown to reduce NH3 loss from manure These include the use of acidifying agents (e.g., alum and calcium chloride) and urease inhibitors (e.g., phenyl phosphorodiamidate and N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide). These amendments, require frequent application, resulting in a higher production cost [11,12]. Lignite (brown coal)—a product of the first stage of coalification and intermediate between peat and sub-bituminous coal [15]—has been shown to be a cost-effective, practical and potentially long-lasting alternative for mitigating N loss from manure [16]
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