Influence of Hygrometry, Temperature and Air Flow Rate on the Evolution of Ammonia Levels

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The results of a statistical analysis would have been useful to make a better analysis of the experimental results. The ventilation extraction done under the slatted floor brings other concerns about the better ambient conditions vs. higher ammonia emissions by the air movement over manure. There is also a paradox as higher ventilation rate lowers ammonia concentrations in the ambient air inside the livestock building, it also increases the total ammonia emissions outside the building.

Covering Slurry Stores and Effects on Emissions of Ammonia and Methane

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The potential of covering the manure tanks have been confirmed and reductions of at least 90% seem to be feasible. The covers have to be sealed properly to prevent leakage and venting of the gases emitted (ammonia, H2S) could be treated trap and recycled through a scrubber. More work is needed to understand the pH changes occurring when the tank is covered as compared to uncovered as pH has an important role in ammonia release also changes in the methane measurements has also to be done as the method used was too insensitive.

Costs of New Housing Systems for Pigs with Low Ammoina Emission

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For each production stage at least 6 different techniques or systems are suggested to meet the Green Label standard which are:
for non-lactating sows 2,5 kg NH3/pig-place per year compared to traditional housing where ammonia emissions are evaluated to 4,2 kg NH3/pig-place per year;
for farrowing sows 4,0 kg NH3/pen per year compared to traditional housing where ammonia emissions are evaluated to 8,3 kg NH3/pig-place per year;
for nurseries 0,3 kg NH3/piglet-place per year compared to traditional housing where ammonia emissions are evaluated to 0,6 kg NH3/piglet-place per year;
and finishers 1,5 kg NH3/pig-place per year compared to traditional housing where ammonia emissions are evaluated to 3,0 kg NH3/pig-place per year for fully slatted floor and 2,5 for partly slatted floor.
The cheapest systems suggested are the most cost effective as they also present the lower costs per kg NH3 reduction.

Etude d'Impact du Reglement sur la Reduction de la Pollution d'Origine Agricole.

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This impact study has been prepared to present the economical, financial and environmental elements at stake with the regulation project on the reduction of pollution originating from agricultural activities. The environmental problems and setback of the control measures are presented. It is stress that environmental problems come particularly from the 3 watersheds (L’Assomption, Yamaska and Chaudiere) where the animal concentration is very high and manure production exceeds the soil baring capacity (in these areas) by 4 millions cubic meters annually which corresponds to 14,000 tons of nitrogen and 7,000 tons of phosphorus spread in excess. Discussions have been made between different organizations and individuals in order to find consensus on the different aspects of the proposed regulation. Many elements from that consultation have been approved and they are: the obligation to have manure and fertilizer management plan developed by an agronomist or by the farmer who would have received specific formation; consider the phosphorus as the limiting element in the soil where its concentration is high; minimum distances from ditches, streams, ponds or lakes for manure application; manure application period; distances for odour control. The regulation of different countries, states in the United States and also provinces in Canada are presented and some comparisons are done with Quebec’s regulation project. An economical evaluation of the impacts of such regulation is presented and the total cost associated is estimated to be 44 M$ per year. On the other hand the savings on commercial fertilizers is estimated to be from 15 to 30 M$ per year and could go as high as 60 M$/year. The nutrients losses to the streams, rivers and lakes are estimated to be reduced by 20,000 tons of nitrogen per year and 3,900 tons of phosphorus, representing 42% and 24% of the actual losses. The improvement of the water quality of many streams and river and the return for recreational use is an important advantage than has no been estimated economically.

Swine Manure: From Storage to Soil

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The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) has been involved in manure management and odour control research since 1990. Work has been realised on different stages of manure management. A layer of 6 to 10 inches unchopped dry barley straw has been found to be reduce significantly the odour emissions from earthen manure storage (EMS) and with High-Line Manufacturing (Vonda, SK) the Top Gun round bale blower has been developped to unroll the bale and blow the straw on top of liquid manure. The odour reduction is efficient for up to 6 weeks and at that time more straw can be applied. When adding a straw cover, a chopped blade has to be applied on the pump in order to chop that straw. In order to remove the soil from the buttom of the EMS, the Pitsweep has been developped and consist in a sweep auger attached to the pump inlet. The solids are then moved to the pump inlet and pumped with the liquids. The traditional agitation of the whole EMS in order to get the solids into suspension is not necessary anymore and less odours are thus produced. To transport the manure, continuous flow system (CFS) (using irrigation piping) has been compared to batch system (BS) (conventional pull type or truck mounted tanks). CFS presents some advantages with its large capacity, less field compaction and less damages done to the roads compared to BS. Work has to be done to improve the start/stop control of such systems and to improve flow control. PAMI has developped an injector with shanks spaced at 12 in. in order to deliver manure evenly and 1 1/2 in. diameter hoses to prevent clugging from straw, hair and other debris. Testing started this fall with the Green Trac injection system for manure injection into forage crop (low soil disturbance with 1/2 wide slot that are 4 1/2 in. deep. PAMI and Univ. of Saskatchewan are working on a 3 year research project in order to maximize the agronimic and environmental benefits of swine and cattle manure valorization.

Many different aspects of manure management has been investigated by PAMI and work has been done to develop new equipments for manure handling that result in less environmental impacts.

Manure Storages

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This standard gives recommandations for the design, construction and siting of manure storage facilities. Methods are given to calculate storage volume and determine storage unit location. Materials and structural design are also discussed.

A Swine Integrator's Prespective on Nutrient Management Procesdures

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The goal of pork producers is to operate in a sustainable manner that includes among other requirements, environmental soundness, social acceptability and profitability. Gains in efficiencyhave reduced nutrients by-products per pig, but competitive forces have led to specialization, larger farms, and concentrated area of production that have resulted in new opportunities related to nutrient management. Availabel technology uses on-farm processing or storage facilities and manure is applied to the land as an organic fertilizer. Knowledge of nutrient content of soils and crop uptake of nutrients is incorporated into manure application and crp remnoval plans to prevent either runoff or nutrient buildup on land. This is to ensurewater quality protection. Existing systems are adequate but lack flexibability, require effective management may not have been incorporated into older farms, and do not offer obvious solutions to odor concerns. Cost-effective alternatives should address those needs. Advancement in nutrient management procedureswill ikely accelerate the on-going changes in the structure of the swine industry.

Floating Permeable Covers to Control Odor from Lagoons and Manure Storages

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Ten different polystyrene foam materials of thickness ranging from 1 to 3 cm were tested for their ability to reduce ammonia and odors emissions from the surface of stored liquid swine manure. The manure was stored in 0.30 m diameter and 0.365 m high pails. Ammonia concentrations were measured and odor emission was evaluated using cotton fabric swatches. All the materials evaluated reduced ammonia emissions from 45 to 90% compared to uncovered manure. Odor panelist could identify an odor intensity reduction as result to cover use. The more effective cover materials presented a sufficient gas permeability allowing the gases to pass through the foam an undergo aerobic breakdown. for less permeable covers, the gas (odor and ammonia) passed around the covers.

The cover testing was done on a very small scale which rises questions about the validity of such results on a larger scale. The odor analysis done with the cloth swatch technique can also be questioned if we consider the results obtained by R.E. Nicolai et al., 1997 (in the same conference).

Design, Construction, and Validation of a Pilot-Scale Biofiltration System for the Reduction of Swine Odor

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Cotton swatch method was used to compare the odours before and after the biofilters. No information is given on the possibility of making those biofilters on a scale size to test it on swine facilities.

Ecosorb – Un neutralisant d'odeurs naturellement efficace

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This product, a mix of essential oils from different plants, seems to neutralize odors and has been used successfully in the food processing industry, waste treatment plans, composting facilities, refineries and petrochimical industries and foundries. The cost of this product seems to be very interesting compare to other expensive odor treatments and the product is harmless to the environment. This product has to be atomized in very fine droplets directly in the air or on the odorous product to neutralize the odor. Ecosorb is always used diluted and this dilution has to be done considering the odor source.

This product seems to be interesting however the text of this conference gives no reference to any specific testing done. Other documents may come later to complete this information. For now it is presented as the product to solve the odor problems but no real evidence is presented to support it.