Distinction between Different Slurry Application Techniques by their Ammonia Emission with FTIR-Open-Path Measurements and Dispersion Modelling

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The purpose of this experiment was testing the FTIR method and instrumental set-up for field comparaison of emissions from different manure spreading systems and also to evaluate those emissions and compare the spreading techniques. For the specific conditions of the experiment, reductions of 26% were observed for the bandspreading method and 45% for the trailing shoe system compared with the conventional double deflector nozzle. Emissions of other gases such as NO2 could not be observed; other techniques such as static chambers would probably be more appropriate for emissions of small gases quantities.

Ammonia Emissions from Pig Slurries : Evaluation of Acidification and the Uses of Additives in Reducing Losses

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The experiment was done in laboratory under controlled conditions and measurements were taken only during few days. This type of experiment can be a good step to screen additives available and retain the most promising ones for further analysis and research in production conditions. A standard procedure for additive evaluation is needed in order to be able to compare on a reliable basis the manufacturers’ claims.

Housing for Frowing Pigs Meeting the Needs for Animal, Stockman and Environment

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Changes were made in the floor design and the climatization to optimize the conditions for growing pigs by improving the air quality and the lying comfort of the animal and also to reduce the ammonia volatilization from the floor and the manure in the pit. By lowering the manure pit area from 50 to 25%, the ammonia volatilization can be reduced significantly. Metal slatted floors also contribute to lowering the ammonia emissions compared to concrete slatted floor. By partially covering the slatted floor with naps this will result in less fouling of the solid floor as the animals will not lay on the slatted area and subsequently soiling the solid floor thus resulting in less ammonia emissions. The tested ventilation systems influenced significantly that the air quality at the stockman and pigs breathing areas. The total dust concentration and the ammonia concentration were higher in systems using bedding (sawdust) and this should be considered even if the animal welfare is increased. Changes in the pen floor design and climate control system can significant effects on the air quality and the ammonia emissions.

Five different slatted floor types and two different ventilation systems (high inlet and outlet, low inlet and outlet) were tested. The ventilation system with low inlet and outlet resulted in lower ammonia concentrations at the animal level but the same emission rates through the exhausted air were measured.

New Injection Technique – Direct Ground Injection (DGI registered)

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The pressures tested for the injection are 500 and 800 kPa (72,52 and 116 psi). The authors present their results as being preliminary and more research will follow. The advantage of such an application system is that the stones in soil would have little effect on the application and since the application is not done mechanically there is no injectors wearing and no stone lifting. Also, the soil is less disturbed than with the mechanical injection and manure injection can be done with low damage to grass land. Application rates below 45 m3/ha work best but the rate can be increased to about 80 m3/ha before manure appears on top of the soil. Very cohesive soil (clay and loam soils) are not suitable for the use of this injection technique as manure penetration is difficult. More work would need to give information on the work rate and the economic of the DGI technique. Comparison between more conventional injection systems and DGI would also be interesting.

Potential for the Psychrophilic Anaerobic Treatment of Swine Manure Using a Sequencing Batch Reactor.

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The psychrophilic anaerobic treatment is realized at temperatures ranging between 5 to 25 C. This anaerobic treatment is more promising under Canadian conditions than mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic processes where higher temperatures in the reactor has to be maintained. The results presented are promising however the experiment were done on a laboratory scale as this type of treatment is technically feasible on a larger scale, it is stable and easy to operate. The investment cost of such equipment are not discussed.

Uniform Terminology for Livestock Production Facilities

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This gives general terminology for livestock production facilities. General structures and environment, farmstead planning and arrangement, housing environment, structural components, materials and design, livestock terms, feed and watering equipment domestic water and waste system terms and farmstead electrical terms are discussed.

Evaluation of Experimental Swine Waste Storage Covers for Odor Control

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The objective of the research was to evaluate the use of organic and inorganic floating covers to reduce odor emissions from swine waste storage units. Twenty-one 600 litre tanks containing approximately 8% total solids where examined with five potental treatments: no cover, wheat straw (12 in. thick), a 2 cm thick layer of soybean oil, 30 cm straw and oil mat (by placing straw in 4 layers with 1.3 gal of oil between each layer and a Permalon cover.

Odor Control at a Large-Scale Swine Production Facility

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A large-scale swine production facility has been investigated to find solutions to many odor complaints done by nearby neighbors. This facility houses 50 000 animals and manure is stored in 3 football-field size lagoons. Within a half-mile radius of this setting, live neighbors that have been reporting nuisance from the odor emission of the facility and also alleged farm odor-related health problems which included nose and throat irritation, nausea, vomiting, headaches, sleep problems and breathing difficulties. Odor measurements were taken to identify the production activities that generated most odors and gestation and nursery buildings and field-sprinkling operations were pointed out. Steps were taken to lower the odor-related releases and the following techniques were selected: centrifugal separation and drying of solid waste and soil injection of liquid waste on farm land, and erecting windbreaks by planting multiple rows of trees. The implementation of such methods and maintenance of controls help reduce the odorous emissions. The number of complaints significantly deceased following these management steps.

This investigation and the steps that followed are an interesting example of the type of intervention that could be done to find solutions to odor problems adapted to a particular facility using a system approach. The size of this facility dictated such intervention as the odor problems were probably important and due to the scale of the facility a team of specialists could investigate.

Reduction of Ammonia and Odor Emissions from a Piggery with Biofilters

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This work is very interesting because the follow up has bee done on biofilter that have been operating in Germany for many years. The efficiency in odour reduction is very interesting.

Etude de la dispersion atmospherique de composes volatils odorants: solutions proposees (Atmospheric dispersion of odorus volatil compounds: proposed solutions)

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A software developed to study the odours dispersion is presented. This tool is developed based on Hogstrom theory of odours dispersion of puff emissions applied to Gaussian models. Concentration peaks are taken into account. ODODIS (Odours Dispersion Software) propose nine options within the Gaussian domain to explore different solutions for atmospheric dispersion problems for odorous as well as odourless gases using different input such as g/s, ppb and UO (unit odour). Testing for data collection and validation of the software has been done with a normal scale odour source (chimney giving off given concentrations of acetone, a gas easily measured) to control the emission and meteorological data acquisition station. Sampling collections were done at different locations few meters to the source and a data base could be developed. Simulation were done with the software to verify the ability of the nine solutions to evaluate correctly the concentrations at the sampling points. Two of the nine solutions proposed give interesting results that demonstrated that such application of gaussian models can be satisfactory in estimating dispersion patterns rapidly.

This research is interesting because data collection was done and a data base could be done to validate the proposed models. The use of a gas as source simplify the data collection because the gas concentration evaluation is more easy and rapid than odour quantification. Further work done directly with odour would substantiate this project.