Ammonia emissions from broiler manure: Influence of storage and spreading method

Knowledge is poor concerning losses of ammonia from broiler manure during storage and after spreading. Broiler manure was stored from October to May in two separate heaps, one uncovered and one covered with a 30 cm layer of straw. Ammonia emissions were measured with a micrometeorological mass balance method in five separate periods during storage. Ambient air temperature and temperatures in the heaps were recorded continuously. After storage, broiler manure from the uncovered heap and commercial fertilizer pellets including broiler manure were spread to arable land at a rate of 110 kg [total-N] ha-1. Ammonia emissions were measured with an equilibrium concentration method from plots fertilized with broiler manure and pellets, respectively, with and without harrowing 4 h after spreading. Temperature measurements taken in the heaps during storage indicated high biological activity. The highest temperatures were recorded in the straw-covered heap. Cumulative ammonia losses were 7% of total nitrogen from the uncovered heap and 10% from the heap with cover. Totally, 13.5% of the nitrogen in the broiler manure was lost as ammonia after spreading without incorporation of the manure and 7.5% from plots with incorporation. After incorporation no ammonia emission occurred. No emissions occurred from plots fertilized with pellets. © 2002 Silsoe Research Institute. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.