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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #267001
Title: Effect of dietary protein concentration on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from dairy manure

Author
item LEE, C - Pennsylvania State University
item HRISTOV, A - Pennsylvania State University
item Dell, Curtis
item Feyereisen, Gary
item KAYE, J - Pennsylvania State University
item BEEGLE, D - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Joint Meeting of the ADSA, AMSA, ASAS and PSA
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/11/2011
Publication Date: 7/11/2011
Citation: Lee, C., Hristov, A.N., Dell, C.J., Feyereisen, G.W., Kaye, J., Beegle, D. 2011. Effect of dietary protein concentration on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from dairy manure [abstract]. Joint Meeting of the ADSA, AMSA, ASAS and PSA. Paper No. W279.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary crude protein concentration on ammonia and greenhouse gas (GHG: carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) emissions from dairy manure in simulated storage (Exp. 1) and from manure-amended soil in lysimeters (Exp. 2). Twenty four lactating Holstein cows were grouped and offered randomly one of the following diets: 16.3% crude protein (CP) (HighCP), or 13.5% (CP) (LowCP). Feces and urine were separately collected from each cow and manure was prepared by mixing feces and urine in a 1.7:1 ratio. Total N concentration and the proportion of ammonium- and urea-N in total N were greater for HighCP manure compared with LowCP manure (4.4 vs. 2.8% and 51.4 vs. 30.5%, respectively). In Exp. 1, manure was incubated in laboratory conditions for 122 h. The cumulative ammonia emission from LowCP manure was considerably reduced (by 47%, P less than 0.001) compared with HighCP manure. The emission rates and cumulative emissions of GHG were not affected by type of manure. In Exp. 2, manure was applied to lysimeters (61 x 61 x 61cm; Hagerstown silt loam; fine, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalf) at 9.5 and 9.1 g N and 1,653 and 2,356 g fresh manure per lysimeter (HighCP and LowCP, respectively). The emission rate of ammonia was 49% greater (1.53 vs. 1.03 mg/square m per min; P less than 0.001) for HighCP than for LowCP manure. In contrary, the emission rates of methane and carbon dioxide were greater for LowCP compared with HighCP manure, which was explained by the increased manure application rate with LowCP (to achieve similar N application rate). Emissions of nitrous oxide were not affected by treatment. In conclusion, LowCP manure significantly decreased ammonia emission in simulated storage conditions and from manure-amended soil and increased, due to greater application rate, methane and carbon dioxide emissions from manure amended soil compared with HighCP manure.