The effect on N 2O emissions of storage conditions and rapid incorporation of pig and cattle farmyard manure into tillage land

Abstract

The use of additional straw in animal housing and the rapid incorporation of manure into tillage land have been recognised as potential techniques to reduce ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions. However, there is the potential for these management practices to increase nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions, i.e. 'pollution swapping'. Emissions of N 2 O were monitored during storage of either pig or cattle farmyard manure (FYM) and after application to tillage land at two UK sites. Losses of N 2 O from conventionally stored pig and cattle FYM were 2.6% and 4.3% of the total-N into store, respectively. Following land spreading, N 2 O losses ranged from 0.05) effect of extra straw use during housing on N 2 O emissions following the spreading of pig and cattle FYM. No consistent effect of FYM incorporation on N 2 O emissions was evident suggesting that rapid incorporation (<4h) can only reduce both N 2 O and NH 3 losses under site specific conditions. The results suggest that strategies to minimise N 2 O emissions from solid manure management should focus on storage rather than land spreading, and that there is a need to develop integrated manure management strategies to minimise 'pollution swapping'.