Guidelines for Selection of Energy Efficient Agricultural Ventilation Fans

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Ammonia Emissions from Composting Livestock Manure

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No comments are given on the ammonia emission and the total ammonia emission for liquid manure storage. The impact of composting on the total ammonia emission for this type of manure management is not presented. The experiments were realized in laboratory with small volume reactors and controlled conditions.

Manure Treatment to Reduce Gas Emissions from Large Swine Houses

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No information on the specific additive tested is given probably as further experiments are made. More explanation are needed on the differences in the nutrients concentration in the manure as those concentration are lower for the manure treated with the additives. The only significant difference obtained in the gases emitted are for the ammonia. Testing in more buildings would provide more data to confirm these results.

Economic Implication of Reduced Crude Protein Diets for Pigs to Reduce Ammonia Emissions

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The authors doesn’t explain the difference in costs of the conventional and lower crude protein (CP) diets. For UK conditions, the results obtained in this publication show that the use of CP diets are economically not interesting to producers unless they produce manure in excess to dispose properly on the land that is available for them. Economical incentive would be necessary to integrate such practice. Further data are needed to evaluate pig performance and to assess the true economical situation for the U.K.

Loi sur la protection du territoire et des activites agricoles.

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The law on the protection of the rural territory and agricultural activities is presented in this document. The rural territory in Quebec is protected from non-farming uses. In addition to the law ruling this zoning, right-to-farm provisions have been added to protect from lawsuits accepted farming practices realized in rural territory.

Sleighfoot solves a stinky problem

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The Sleighfoot Manure Applicator (SMA) imported from Holland in 1992 by the Dairy Producers’ Conservation Group (DPCG) has been tested by its members. Field trials made by Dr. Bittman of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada at Agassiz allowed him to conclude that the SMA is “environmentally responsible and economically sensible”.
SMA applies manure at the plant base by its feet riding on the ground surface. The vegetation is being combed and the plants resume their upright position. As the manure is applied at ground level, no splashing occur compared to more conventional manure spreader thus limiting the emissions of gases and odors to the air, no damage is done to the plants by flattening or burning from the manure and the nutrients contained in the manure are more easily available to the roots. Furthermore when SMA is used in growing crops the leaf canopy unfold after the SMA passage limiting considerably the odors and emissions. Manure spreading can be done at any time from April to September and particularly when the crops need it most.
If considering variable cost, the SMA is more interesting than splashplate spreaders because less ammoniac emissions keeping more nitrogen available to the plants. However if considering the capital cost, the SMA is less interesting. Leasing, jointly own or hire custom operators could alternatives that would improve the economics of SMA.

This technology of spreading manure at ground level into crops is very interesting and currently used also in Quebec with spreaders manufactured in the province. It offers a good control on the odors and gas emissions while spreading.

Design of Anaerobic Lagoons for Animal Waste Management

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These standards give the minimum criteria for the design and construction of livestock waste anaerobic lagoons sited in agricultural or rural areas. The standards consider location, odour control, nearby residences, air flow pattern, water supply, soils and foundation. The lagoon size determination is discussed considering loading rates and climatic conditions.

Nutrient Flows in Agriculture in The Netherlands with special emphasis on Pig Production

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Annual nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) flows in agriculture in The Netherlands were identified and quantified in 1990, with special emphasis on pig production. Also, the effects that various management strategies in pig production have on NPK emission in 1990 were compared using a static deterministic simulation model. Ammonia emission from pig production in 1990 (60.9 Gg N) exceeded the defined target for the year 2000 (12.7 Gg N). Measures that affect volatilization of ammonia directly (i.e., introduction of low-emission stables, manure storage facilities, or manure application techniques) reduced ammonia emission most effectively. These measures, however, should be combined with a reduction in application of artificial N fertilizer to avoid an increase in N losses through leaching, run-off, or denitrification. Targets for ammonia emission in the year 2010 require a reduction in the pig population of 24 to 62%, in addition to implications of measures described in this article. National NPK losses in 1990 through leaching, run-off, or denitrification, predicted at 223.5 kg/ha for N, 32.7 kg/ha for P, and 67 kg/ha for K, exceed government targets for the year 2010 (185 kg N/ha; 8.7 kg P/ha; norm not set for K). Reducing application of artificial NPK fertilizer reduced national NPK losses most effectively. For P, use of phytase and feeding pigs in accordance with their P requirements is required, in addition to limited use of artificial P fertilizer, to meet targets for the year 2010. Hence, from an environmental point of view, pig production in The Netherlands is limited primarily by ammonia emission targets for the year 2010.

Biofiltration System for Testing the Reduction of Odor from Swine Buildings

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Testing was done at North Carolina State Univ. on 3 pilot-scale biofilters and the apparatus related to the operation of such biofilters built to treat odorous air coming from the swine gestation building pit. The biofilter medium was a 3:1 mix of yard waste compost misture and wood chips misture. Temperatures, flow rates, and pressure drop were measured by a computer through out the testing and the computer also measured and controlled the moisture content of the biofilter medium. This project wanted to evaluate the performance of those biofilters and ensure that this setting would be useful for futur research projects on scientifc experiments of swine odor reductions. The odor measurements were done using the cotton swatch absorption method and the samples were analyzed by a panel. Odor intensity, irritation intensity and unpleasantness were the parameters measured in five tests and the reductions from the use of biofilters compared to untreated odorous air were 61%, 58%, and 84% respectively.

This pilot scale experiment is interesting because it could lead to larger scale installations. However the odor analysis done with the cloth swatch technique can be questioned if we consider the results obtained by R.E. Nicolai et al., 1997 (in the same conference).

Development of a Low Cost Biofilter for Swine Production Facilities

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This type of biofilter is very interesting, simple, effective and economical (0,28 US$ per piglet produced for construction and operation costs considering a facility of 700 sow that produces weaned piglets). More design and operation information is needed and further research will try to determine:
– the relationship of the pressure differential vs. the air flow for various depths and biofilter material;
– the minimum exhaust air contact time to the filter medium required to obtain adequate odor reduction for various livestock species;
– practical dust removal techniques for the exhaust air to prevent biofilter clogging;
– practical moisture application system for the biofilter and the proper management of this system to apply and control moisture in the filter bed.

See Zeisig and Munchen, 1988