Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T23:36:45.239Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of temperature, wind speed and air humidity on ammonia volatilization from surface applied cattle slurry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

S. G. Sommer ,
J. E. Olesen  and
B. T. Christensen
S. G. Sommer
Affiliation:
Askov Experimental Station, Vejenvej 55, DK-6600 Vejen, Denmark
J. E. Olesen
Affiliation:
Department of Agrometeorology, PO Box 25, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
B. T. Christensen
Affiliation:
Askov Experimental Station, Vejenvej 55, DK-6600 Vejen, Denmark
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Ammonia losses from surface-applied cattle slurry were measured under field conditions using a wind tunnel system that allows variables affecting ammonia loss to be examined under controlled conditions. The experiments were carried out on a sandy soil with seven different surface covers. This report considers the effect of wind speed, temperature and water vapour deficit on the ammonia loss over a series of 6-day periods. During October 1986 to November 1989 42 treatments were examined, using slurries taken from the same slurry tank to provide slurries of similar chemical composition.

When temperatures were near zero, the rate of ammonia loss was generally low. The accumulated loss over 6 days was high, however, because the rate of loss was constant throughout the period. In these experiments the soil was saturated with water and partly frozen, and the infiltration of slurry into the soil reduced. At 19 °C initial loss rates were high but, after 12 h, almost no further loss occurred. Apart from these extremes, the ammonia loss rates within the initial 24 h were significantly affected by temperature and wind speed.

Ammonia volatilization after 6 h was exponentially related to temperature (r2 = 0·841) but the correlation weakened with time after slurry application. An increase in ammonia volatilization with increasing water vapour pressure deficit was considered to be an effect of temperature.

The ammonia loss rate increased when wind speeds increased up to 2·5 m/s. No consistent increase in ammonia volatilization was found when the wind speed increased from 2·5 to 4 m/s. Ammonia loss after 24 h increased with increasing initial pH of the slurry.

A two-stage pattern for ammonia volatilization from slurry is proposed. During the first stage (the initial 24 h) ammonia loss rate is high due to an elevated pH at the slurry surface followingv application, and temperature significantly affects the loss rate. In the next stage, pH declines and the rate of ammonia volatilization decreases. During this stage other factors, including the dry matter content of the slurry, control the rate of ammonia loss.

Type
Crops and Soils
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 117 , Issue 1 , August 1991 , pp. 91 - 100
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Allen, G. A., Harrison, R. M. & Wake, M. T. (1988). A meso-scale study of the behaviour of atmospheric ammonia and ammonium. Atmospheric Environment 22, 1347–1353.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beauchamp, E. G., Kidd, G. E. & Thurtell, G. (1978). Ammonia volatilization from sewage sludge applied in the field. Journal of Environmental Quality 7, 141–146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beauchamp, E. G., Kidd, G. E. & Thurtell, G. (1982). Ammonia volatilization from liquid dairy cattle manure in the field. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 62, 11–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beutier, D. & Renon, H. (1978). Representation of NH3- H2S-H2O, NH3-CO2-H2O, and NH3-SO2-H2O Vapor- Liquid equilibria. Industrial Engineering Chemical Process Design Development 17, 220–230.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brunke, R., Alvo, P., Schuepp, P. & Gordon, R. (1988). Effect of meteorological parameters on ammonia loss from manure in the field. Journal of Environmental Quality 17, 431–436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buusman, E., Maas, H. F. M. & Asman, W. A. H. (1987). Antropogenic NH3 emissions in Europe. Atmospheric Environment 21, 1009–1022.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christensen, B. T. (1986). Ammonia volatilization loss from surface applied animal manure. In Efficient Land Use of Sludge and Manure (Eds Kofoed, A. D., Williams, J. H. & L'Hermite, P.), pp. 193–203. London and New York: Elsevier Applied Science Publishers.Google Scholar
Christensen, B. T. & Sommer, S. G. (1989). Fordampning af ammoniak fra udbragt godning. Metode og ammoniaktab fra urea og urea-ammonium-nitrat (Volatilization of ammonia from fertilizer and manure. Methodology and loss of ammonia from urea and ureaammonium- nitrate). Tidsskrift for Plameavl 93, 177–190. [Summary and legends in English].Google Scholar
Donovan, W. C. & Logan, T. J. (1983). Factors affecting ammonia volatilization from sewage sludge applied to soil in a laboratory study. Journal of Environmental Quality 12, 584–590.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fordham, A. W. & Schwerdman, U. (1977). Composition reactions of liquid manure (Guile), with particular reference to phosphate. III. pH-Buffering capacity and organic components. Journal of Environmental Quality 6, 140–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lauer, D. A., Bouldin, D. R. & Klausner, S. D. (1976). Ammonia volatilization from dairy manure spread on the soil surface. Journal of Environmental Quality 5, 134–141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lockyer, D. R. (1984). A system for the measurement in the field of losses of ammonia through volatilization. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 35, 837–848.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Molloy, S. P. & Tunney, H. (1983). A laboratory study of ammonia volatilization from cattle and pig slurry. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 22, 37–45.Google Scholar
Olesen, J. E. (1988). Jordbrugsmeteorologisk arsoversigt 1987. Agrometeorological Annual Report 1987. Tidsskrift for Planleavls Specialserie Report no. S1924. Copenhagen, Denmark: Statens Planteavlsforsog.Google Scholar
Pain, B.F., Phillips, V. R., Clarkson, C. R. & Klarenbeek, J. V. (1989). Loss of nitrogen through ammonia volatilization during and following the application of pig or cattle slurry to grassland. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 47, 1—12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rachpal-Singh, & Nye, P. H. (1986). A model of ammonia volatilization from applied urea. I. Development of the model. Journal of Soil Science 37, 9–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rasmussen, K. R. & Mikkelsen, H. E. (1988). Development of a boundary layer wind tunnel for aeolian studies. Geoskrifter No. 27. Aarhus, Denmark: Institute of Geology.Google Scholar
Roelofs, J. G. M. (1986). The effect of airborne sulphur and nitrogen deposition on aquatic and terrestrial heathland vegetation. Experientia 42, 372–377.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryden, J. C. & Lockyer, D. R. (1985). Evaluation of a system of wind tunnels for field studies of ammonia loss from grassland through volatilization. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 36, 781–788.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sas Institute (1988). SAS/STAT User's Guide, Release 6·03. Edition. Cary, NC, USA: SAS Institute Inc.Google Scholar
Sherlock, R. R. & Goh, K. M. (1985). Dynamics of ammonia volatilization from simulated urine patches and aqueous urea applied to pasture. III. Field verification of a simplified model. Fertilizer Research 6, 23–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sommer, S. G. & Christensen, B. T. (1989). Fordampning af ammoniak fra svinegylle udbragt pa jordoverfladen (Volatilization of ammonia from surface applied pig slurry). Tidsskrift for Plameavl 93, 307–321. [Summary and legends in English].Google Scholar
Stevens, R. J., Laughlin, R. J. & Frost, J. P. (1989). Effect of acidification with sulphuric acid on the volatilization of ammonia from cow and pig slurries. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 113, 389–395.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, R. B., Ryden, J. C. & Lockyer, D. R. (1987). Fate of nitrogen in cattle slurry following surface application or injection to grassland. Journal of Soil Science 38, 689–700.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vlek, P. L. G. & Craswell, E. T. (1981). Ammonia volatilization from flooded soils. Fertilizer Research 2, 227–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vlek, P. L. G. & Stumpe, J. M. (1978). Effects of solution chemistry and environmental conditions on ammonia volatilization losses from aqueous systems. Soil Science Society of America Journal 42, 416–421.CrossRefGoogle Scholar