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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #342476
Research Project: Sustainable Management and Byproduct Utilization of Manure Nutrients and Environmental Contaminants from Beef and Swine Production Facilities

Location: Livestock Bio-Systems

Title: Effect of calcium hydroxide application to feedlot pen surface material on ammonia, odor, and greenhouse gas emissions

Author
item Spiehs, Mindy
item Woodbury, Bryan
item Berry, Elaine
item Wells, James - Jim

Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE)
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2017
Publication Date: 7/3/2017
Citation: Spiehs, M.J., Woodbury, B.L., Berry, E.D., Wells, J. 2017. Effect of calcium hydroxide application to feedlot pen surface material on ammonia, odor, and greenhouse gas emissions. In: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting (ASABE), July 16-19, 2017, Spokane, Washington. ASABE Paper No. 1700385. doi:10.13031/aim.201700385.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Calcium hydroxide (lime) is used to reduce microorganisms and odors in human biosolids, animal and poultry manures, and abattoir wastes. In the cattle industry, lime has been used as a disinfectant and is spread on the pen surface to control infections such as diarrhea and foot rot. The increase in pH that results from lime addition may increase ammonia emissions thereby negatively impacting air quality. Changing the pH of feedlot surface material (FSM) may also alter microbial activities which produce odorous compounds and greenhouse gases. The objective of this study was to measure ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from FSM containing 0, 2.5, 5, or 10% lime. Measurements were taken over a 12 day period in lab-scaled pans containing FSM. The pH of the FSM was higher when the 5 and 10% treatments were applied compared to the 0 and 2.5% treatments for the first four days. During this time, there was a linear increase in NH3 emissions as the concentration of lime increased in the FSM (P < 0.01). Ammonia emissions were similar across all treatments after day 4. Hydrogen sulfide emissions were higher (P < 0.01) for FSM containing 0% lime compared to the other treatments at Day 1. By Day 4 the H2S emission for the FSM containing 2.5 and 5% lime were greater when compared to the 10 and 0% lime treatments. Carbon dioxide and N2O remained near atmospheric concentrations for all treatments except the 0% lime which increased dramatically after Day 4. This indicates suppressed microbial activities in the FSM receiving lime. Methane increased gradually over time for all treatments. Results of this study indicate a potential increase in NH3 emissions and a decrease in H2S and GHG immediately following lime application, but no long-term treatment effects were observed.