1. SLURRY APPLICATION TECHNIQUES
TO REDUCE AMMONIA EMISSIONS:
FIELD EXPERIMENTS IN BASQUE COUNTRY AND NAVARRA
Artetxe Ainara1, M. Viguria1, H. Arriaga1, O. del Hierro1, Escudero Ania1, P. Merino1,
M. Aguilar2, L. Sánchez2, I. Irañeta2, A. Abaigar2, M. Pinto1
(1) NEIKER-Tecnalia, Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development. Berreaga St., 1. 48160 Derio (Bizkaia), ES
(2) INTIA-Agrofood Technologies and Infraestructures, Serapio Huci Avenue, 22. 31610 Villaba (Navarra), ES
ahiartetxe@neiker.net
OBJECTIVE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
CONCLUSIONS
To perform two slurry application techniques (trailing hose application and injection), in order to
estimate the NH3 emissions abatement achieved in comparison with conventional surface spreading
(surface broadcast, splashplate) on representative arable soils in the Basque Country and Navarra.
Agriculture produces up to 90% of anthropogenic ammonia (NH3) emissions to the atmosphere and the land application of manure
represents a major source of NH3 emissions to the atmosphere in Europe (often 30–40% of total national emissions).
Techniques to reduce NH3 emissions following application to land have been identified to be among the most cost-effective measures
available to farmers to reduce NH3 emissions.
INTRODUCTION
- Field experiments on three sites across Navarra and the Basque Country: 1, 2, 3
- Pig slurry onto arable lands (cereal stubbles)
- Two application techniques with three repetitions in each one: splashplate (P) vs. trailing hoses (T) or splashplate vs. injection (J)
- Measurements of NH3 emissions: dynamic chamber technique + photoacoustic infrared gas analyser (Brüel and Kjaer, 1302 Multi-Gas Monitor).
Site Treatments 1 (NAVARRA) P vs. T 2 (NAVARRA) P vs. T 3 (BASQUE COUNTRY) P vs. J
Rate
Total N (kg N ha-1) 123 60 300
NH4-N (kg N ha-1) 109 56 232
Long., lat. (m) 560230E, 4718816N 610167E, 4702028N 521740E, 4748863N
Date 8.9.2010 and 9.9.2010 27.7.2011 4.10.2011
Time of fertilization 11:00 h 12:30 h 10:30 h
Measurement duration 6.5 and 6 hours (1st and 2nd day) 6.5 hours 8 hours
Temperature range 14.7ºC - 22ºC 25ºC - 30ºC 17.5ºC - 30.3ºC
Soil
Texture Sandy clay loam Clay loam Clay loam
pH 8.4 8.2 8.2
Organic matter (%) 1.2 2.3 3.6
Slurry
Dry matter (%) 0.66 0.74 1.36
pH 7.5 7.7 6.9
Organic matter (%) 52.3 45.9 58.0
Total N (%) 0.2 0.15 0.26
In SITE 1:
No abatement of cumulative NH3 emissions was
observed using T technique because
the entire surface was covered with slurry,
due to the low dry matter of the slurry (0.66 %)
and the high rate applied (60 m3 ha-1).
In SITE 2:
Reduction in NH3 emissions with
T technique (26.3 %) was
statistically significant (p<0.05).
In SITE 3:
Reduction in NH3 emissions with
J technique (93.4 %) was
statistically significant (p<0.05).
♣ Cumulative NH3 emissions during the first day following pig slurry application were significantly reduced using
trailing hose and injection techniques, achieving a reduction of 26% and 93%, respectively, with respect to the
conventional surface spreading.
♣ Nevertheless, there may be no reduction if the technique of trailing hose is not used properly and the entire
surface is covered with slurry.
RAMIRAN 2013. 15th International Conference. Versailles, France June 3rd – 5th
T trailing hose machine:
0.30 m hose spacing and 13 m working width.
J injection machine:
7 solid tines (10-15 cm deep), spaced 0.35 m.
P splashplate machine:
10 m working width.