Outdoor Hydrogen Sulfide Concentrations Near a Swine Feeding Facility

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Ambient hydrogen sulfide concentrations were monitored for several months at the property line of a wean-to-finish swin production facility. Data was analyzed to determine apparent influences of slurry characteristics, wind speed and time of day. It was also analyzed to evaluate the apparent potential effectiveness of a commercial manure additive, limited aeration and permeable geotextile/straw cover on reducing ambient hydrogen sulfide levels. The addition of the manure additive, combined with the warm weather and 41 days of aeration in late summer, apparently reduced volatile fatty acids, sulfide and BOD in the lagoon slurryy and also the ambient hydrogen sulfide concentrations. The actual effect could not be determined due to the absence of a control lagoon. Concentrations were twice as high at night than during the day. Mean ambient hydrogen sulfide concentrations with the cover was only 13% of the mean concentrations before the cover was installed.

Comparison of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Hog Manure on Yield and Nitrogen Uptake by Canola in Controlled Environment Conditions

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The impact of hog manure application on canola yield and nitrogen uptake was studied and compared to inorganic fertilizer (urea). Two soils (Blaine Lake loam, Meota loam) were used to analyze varying rates (100 and 800 mg N/kg of soil) of swine manure and urea. Eight pots were prepared for each treatment, with plants in 4 replicates grown to maturity with seeds, pods and straw harvested after 12 weeks after crop emergence. Potential sol N rate was assessed by inserting anion and cation resinmembrane probes directly into the soil and messuring the sorbed NO3-N and NH4-N.

In the low rate and control treatments canola germinated and emerged approximately 1 week after seeding. However the high rate of manure and urea delayed germination 6-10 days and reduced germination to 20-30% in the manured soil with no germination was evidence with the high rate of urea. Seed yields increased significantly in soils amended with manure and urea with the exception of the Blaine Lake soil. No sognificant differences in seed yield were difference between manure and urea in the Meota soil, however mnaure amended soil resulted in signifiant yield increase over urea in the Blaine Lake soil. Straw yield was higher in the Blaine Lake soil than in the Meota soil in the urea, manure and control treatments.

The urea and manure treatments increased total nitrogen uptake by the canaol, however a higher percentage of N was stored in the seed with the manure application. Overall, no significant differences in total N uptake were observed between urea and manure on either soil. Higher rates of manure application resulted in significantly higher N uptake, but not directly porportinal to the additional N in the soils. Soils amended with urea had higher available N supply than soil amended with manure and similar rates of N, and N recovery was approximately 20% lower in manure treatments than in the urea treatment.

Impact of Manure on Water Quality Under Continous-Corn and Corn-Soybean Rotation

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The results indicated that altrernative cropping systems like strip cropping alfalfa resulted in the lowest NO3-N concentrations (< 9mg/L) in the shallow groundwater in comparison to manure and other N treatments. Also, continous corn plots receiving, swine manure applications resulted in significantly higher NO3-N concentrations in subsurface drain water although, the use of the swine manure corn-soybean rotation has the potential to reduce negative water quality impacts significantly. Rotation plots showed over time a more consistent NO3-N concentration when compared to continous cropped corn, concentration ranged from 9 -13 mg/l for liquid fertilizer plots and 9 - 15 mg/l for manured plots. Concentrations for the rotated plots were lower than for conrinous corn because fertilzer and swine manure wqas applied every second year. This study shows that high manure application rates canb result in high NO3-N concentrations in drainage water, aslso high drainage volume resulted in greater NO3-N losses with continous corn than rotation practices. This shows precipitation is a major factor in nitrogen leaching losses to shallow groundwater.

A Comparison of Three Balance Methods for Calculating Ventilation Rates in Livestock Buildings

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Three methods for the calculation of the ventilation rate in Northern European livestock buildings were compared on the basis of the balances of animal heat, moisture and carbon dioxide for fattening pigs, dairy cattle and laying hens. The analyses were made on data sets from a collaborative project using literature values for the rates of production of heat, moisture and carbon dioxide. For heat and moisture production, it was found that the balance equations could be improved by including a correction for evaporation of water from fresh food, faeces and urine in livestock buildings, and by adjustment of the equations for partitioning total heat into sensible and latent heat for pigs and poultry. The correction, which is valid for climatic regions and production schemes that exist in Northern Europe, was calculated for each building in such a way that the heat and moisture balances
gave the same ventilation rate. The three methods gave reliable results on a 24 h basis, except when there were small hourly diA

Salmonella Elimination during Composting of Spent Pig Litter

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Comparison of Biofilter Residence Time

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Residence time is a crictical factor in determining the size of an open face biofilter. Four test biofilters were contrusted with media comprised of yard waste compost and brush chips to compare 8s. and 4s. residence time. Biofilter performance was monitored for ten months by measuring pressure drop, moisture content, odour threshold, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia concentrations. Odour reduction efficiency for the 8 and 4 second residence time biofilters is 91% and 87% respectively. Hydrogen sulfide reduction efficiency is 97% and 96%. Ammonia reduction efficiency id 82% and 74%. There is no significant difference between 8 and 4 seconds empty bed contact time for odour, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia removal. Based on current information, the design residence time for biofilters on swine buildings is 4 to 5 seconds.

Swine Manure as a Nitrogen Fertilizer for Improving Ghrain Yield and Protein Concentration of Spring Wheat

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In the fall of 1994 three application methods were studied to examine the impact of swine manure on Hard Red Spring (HRS) wheat protein and yield. The three alternatives included a control, ripped and 8,000 gal/acre of swine manure. The addition of the swine manure significantly increased grain yield and protein content. Grain yield varied from 2.08 t/ha for the control and 3.33 t/ha for the manure application and 11.3% and 16.4% protein respectively. Manure applied at a rate of 8,00 gal/acre had a significant effect on yield and protien when compared against the control, with the most pronounced effects in soils that have inherently nitrogen supplying power.

Nitrogen and organic matter losses during storage of cattle and pig manure

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An Optimization Model for Zero-Excess Phosphorus Management

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MATURITY AND STABILITY PARAMETERS OF COMPOSTS PREPARED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF ORGANIC WASTES

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