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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309224
Title: Physical, chemical and biological properties of simulated beef cattle bedded manure packs

Author
item AYADI, FEROUZ - South Dakota State University
item Spiehs, Mindy
item CORTUS, ERIN - South Dakota State University
item Miller, Daniel
item DJIRA, GEMECHIS - South Dakota State University

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/7/2015
Publication Date: 5/26/2015
Citation: Ayadi, F.Y., Spiehs, M.J., Cortus, E.L., Miller, D.N., Djira, G.D. 2015. Physical, chemical and biological properties of simulated beef cattle bedded manure packs. Transactions of the ASABE. 58(3):797-811.

Interpretive Summary: Manure management is of growing concern for beef cattle producers and the general public. However, the manure including any bedding material can be a valuable fertilizer. Proper manure management optimizes nutrient retention and fertilizer value while reducing air pollution. We conducted a lab-scale experiment to determine differences in moisture content (MC), nutrient value (total ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4-N), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TP)), short-term nitrification activity potential (NAP), and denitrification enzyme activity (DEA)) of simulated beef bedded manure packs based on storage time, bedding material, temperature and depth within the pack. Corn stover and soybean stubble were selected as the two bedding materials and the manure storage times were 0-3 week, 3-6 and 6-9 week old. At the start of the experiment, 36 bedded manure packs were constructed (three per treatment) and monitored over three weeks in temperature/humidity-controlled chambers at 10°C (50°F) and 40°C (104°F). Freshly deposited cow feces from an open beef feedlot, urine, and bedding were added weekly to the bedded manure packs. Immediately prior to this addition of fresh material, samples were taken from one, two and three different depths for 0-3, 3-6 and 6-9 week-old packs, respectively. The data of this study showed that temperature impacted all measured factors, while storage length and the depth within a pack impacted the majority of the factors. The MC was approximately two times lower in areas closer to the surface in packs stored at higher temperature compared to the colder storage, whereas MC in the area close to the bottom of the packs was similar at both storage temperatures. At the higher storage temperature, DEA was three times lower than in packs housed in the Cold chambers, whereas NAP was two times higher in Hot treatments compared to Cold treatments. Total N (17.7 g kg-1) was significantly lower in hot treatments compared to cold treatments (18.6 g kg-1). Bedded manure packs that were stored at the higher temperature had 27% and 17% higher TP and TK concentration, respectively, in areas closer to the bottom compared to these areas at colder temperature. Total Potassium, NH4-N, and TP were 21%, 23%, and 12% higher, respectively, in areas closer to the bottom of the bedded manure packs when compared to areas closer to the surface. Overall, temperature affected all properties, while most measured variables differed with age and sample depth. The results of this study suggest that management decisions on removal frequencies become more decisive in summer month with respect to the fertilizer value and the volume needed for bedded manure storage, while decisions on bedding material seem to be important year round. Nutrient sampling from top to the bottom of the bedded manure is important to ensure the accurateness of nutrient estimates.

Technical Abstract: Manure including bedding material can be a valuable fertilizer, yet numerous, poorly characterized, environmental factors control its quality. The objective was to determine whether moisture content (MC), nutrient value (ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK)), short-term nitrification activity potential (NAP), and denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) of simulated beef bedded manure packs (BP) were affected by temperature (10°C or 40°C), bedding type (corn stover or soybean stubble), storage time (0-3, 3-6 and 6-9 week), or sample depth. Thirty-six lab-scale BP were constructed (n=3 per treatment) and then monitored over a three-week period with fresh feces, urine and bedding additions weekly. The 0-3, 3-6 and 6-9 week old BP were on average 8, 17, 23 cm deep. All ages were sampled approximately 2 cm below the surface (top zones), 3-6 and 6-9 week old BP approximately 2 cm above the bottom (bottom zones), and 6-9 week old BP from the approximate middle. At 40°C, TN (17.7 g kg-1) and DEA (0.95 mmol gbedpack-1 h-1) were lower compared to TN (18.6 g kg-1) and DEA (3.01 mmol gbedpack-1 h-1) at 10°C. In contrast, NAP was higher at 40°C (1.67 vs. 0.76 nmol gbedpack-1 h-1 at 10°C). At 40°C, TP and TK concentrations increased towards the bottom of BP and were higher in these bottom zones (9.9 and 27.8 g kg-1, respectively) than at 10°C (7.2 and 23.0 g kg-1, respectively). At 10°C, NH4-N and TK concentrations increased with lower depth by 27% and 14%, respectively. At 40°C, upper zones of 3-9 week old BP had lower MC (30% to 50%) than at 10°C (48% to 70%); whereas, for both storage temperatures, bottom zones had similar MC (73%) and increased towards the bottom of BP. Additional interactions among factors were measured. Overall, temperature affected all properties, while most variables differed with age and sample depth. The findings suggest that management decisions on removal frequencies become more decisive in summer months with respect to the fertilizer value and the volume needed for bedded manure storage, while decisions on bedding material seem to be important year round. Nutrient sampling from top to the bottom of the bedded manure is important to ensure the accuracy of nutrient estimates.