Manure injection

Submitted by on Thu, 11/10/2018 - 20:54

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Summary

Aim of Measure:

Decreasing the surface area where emissions can take place (i.e., through band application, injection or incorporation); Decreasing the time that emissions can take place, (i.e., through rapid incorporation of manure into the soil, immediate irrigation or rapid infiltration).

Nitrogen Species:

Ammonia emissions (NH3)
Nitrous oxide emissions (N2O)
Dissolved organic N leaching & runoff

Climatic Zone:

Semi-arid
Temperate
Tropical

Geographic Region:

Global

Sector:

Agriculture (livestock)

Sector Category:

Manure application

Measure Description

Measure overview:

For solid manure, the most feasible technique is rapid incorporation into the soil and immediate irrigation. The reference here is the broadcast spreading of slurry and solid manure. A fourth principle, applying when volatilization potential is low, such as under low temperature and wind conditions, is considered category 2 because it requires a method of validation. The costs of techniques used to lower NH₃ emissions from application are related to: (a) depreciation of investments costs of the applicator; (b) return on investments; (c) added tractor costs and labour; and (d) operation and maintenance

Co-benefits and trade offs:

The co-benefits relate to decreased odour emissions and biodiversity loss, and increased palatability of herbage, uniformity of application and consistency of crop response to manure. Some of these benefits are difficult to quantify and therefore have not all been included in the cost estimations.

Measure Efficiency

Indicator for the efficiency of the measure:


Nitrogen Species	Ammonia(NH3)	Ammonium Nitrate (NH4NO3)	Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)	Nitrous Oxide (N2O)	NOx	Nr	Total N
% of Reduction

Reference system:

he reference manure application technique is defined as untreated slurry or solid manure spread over the whole soil surface (“broadcast”) and not followed by incorporation, and not targeting application timing conditions that minimize NH3 loss. For slurry, for example, this would typically consist of a tanker equipped with a discharge nozzle and splash-plate. For solid manures, the reference case would be to leave the manure on the soil surface without incorporation.

Finanacial Implications

Overview of cost:

The costs of techniques used to lower NH3 emissions from application are related to: (a) depreciation of investments costs of the applicator; (b) return on investments; (c) added tractor costs and labour; and (d) operation and maintenance

Ranges of costs relate to the NH4 content of the slurry/manure; the higher the NH4 content, the lower the abatement cost. Mean costs are likely in the lower half of the range, especially when application is done by contractors, on large farms or with shared equipment.

Financial Implications table definitions:


Cost savings and production benefits ($)	Capital costs of implementing this measure ($)	Operational costs of implementing this measure ($)

Refs and Further Info

Further Information:

Bittman, S. Dedina, M. Howard, C.M. Oenema, O. Sutton, M.A. (eds) (2014) Options for Ammonia Mitigation Guidance from the UNECE Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen. Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh, UK.