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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300251
Title: Nitrogen loss from sprinkler applied beef feedlot effluent

Author
item MCAFEE, BLYTHE - University Of Nebraska
item WORTMAN, CHARLES - University Of Nebraska
item Miller, Daniel
item HENRY, CHRISTOPHER - University Of Nebraska
item SHAPIRO, CHARLES - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/26/2013
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Nitrogen loss from beef feedlot runoff during sprinkler application can be costly for both the producer and the environment. Two studies were conducted to quantify gaseous losses during beef feedlot sprinkler applications in the field and to determine the effects of soil pH, percent water-filled pore space, ammonium concentration of the effluent, and weather conditions on losses. Application and post application losses were determined by changes in effluent concentration and by a chamber technique, respectively. In the first study, no nitrogen losses during application were observed because the sprinklers were protected from the wind. In the second study, with no protection against wind, 55% of the nitrogen was lost to drift during application. Following application, N losses were less than 1% of the original nitrogen concentration. Soil pH and effluent ammonia concentration did not significantly affect the percent of nitrogen lost. Increasing wind speed and air temperature resulted in greater losses during application. Weather factors including soil temperature, air temperature, percent water-filled pore space, and relative humidity had varying effects on gas emissions following application.

Technical Abstract: Loss of nitrogen from sprinkler applied beef feedlot effluent can be costly for both the producer and the environment. Sprinkler application of effluent is common throughout the Great Plains, though little work has occurred focusing specifically on N losses from beef feedlot effluent. The objectives of two studies were to quantify NH3 and N2O losses from beef feedlot effluent applications under field conditions and determine the effects of soil pH, percent water filled pore space, NH4+ concentration of the effluent, and weather conditions on NH3 and N2O. Nitrogen losses during application were determined from the differences between NH4+-N concentration of samples taken under the sprinklers and samples taken from the effluent. NH3-N and N2O emission following application were measured using a closed chamber technique with a recirculating configuration and acid traps. In the first study, sprinklers were protected from the wind and NH4+-N losses during application were not seen. Average rate losses from a second study, with no protection against wind and a mean wind speed of 15 m s-1, accounted for 55% of the effluent NH4+-N from drift beyond collection jars during sprinkler application. Following application, N losses from both volatilization and N2O emissions from soil were less than 1% of the original effluent NH4+-N concentration. Soil pH and effluent NH4+-N concentration did not significantly affect the percent of N lost. Increasing wind speed and air temperature resulted in greater N losses during application. Weather factors including: soil temperature, air temperature, %WFPS, and relative humidity had varying effects on NH3 and N2O emissions following application.