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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #313053
Title: Methods for treatment of animal manures to reduce nutrient pollution prior to soil application

Author
item Szogi, Ariel
item Vanotti, Matias
item Ro, Kyoung

Submitted to: Current Pollution Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2015
Publication Date: 3/26/2015
Citation: Szogi, A.A., Vanotti, M.B., Ro, K.S. 2015. Methods for treatment of animal manures to reduce nutrient pollution prior to soil application. Current Pollution Reports. 1:47-56. doi:10.1007/s40726-015-0005-1.

Interpretive Summary: For centuries, animal manures have been a traditional source of nutrients in agriculture. However, disposal of animal manure has become an environmental problem in recent times as a result of increased concentration of animal production within small geographic areas. Manure nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) applied in excess of the assimilative soil capacity have the potential to reach and pollute water resources through soil leaching or runoff. Yet, conservation and recovery of N and P is a concern in modern agriculture because of the high cost and future limited supply of commercial fertilizers, particularly P which is extracted from mineral deposits. Therefore, N and P recovery methods are necessary to reduce their excess prior to manure soil application and recover them as valuable products. This article is a review of existing technologies for animal waste treatment and additional new methods for recycling manure N and P and possible recovery as valuable byproducts.

Technical Abstract: For centuries, animal manures have been a traditional source of nutrients in agriculture. However, disposal of animal manure has become an environmental problem in recent times as a result of increased concentration of animal production within small geographic areas. Manure nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) applied in excess of the assimilative soil capacity have the potential to reach and pollute water resources through soil leaching or runoff. Yet, conservation and recovery of N and P is a concern in modern agriculture because of the high cost and future limited supply of commercial fertilizers, particularly P which is extracted from mineral deposits. Therefore, N and P recovery methods are necessary to reduce their excess prior to manure soil application and recover them as valuable products. This article is a review of existing technologies for animal waste treatment and additional new methods for recycling manure N and P and possible recovery as valuable byproducts.