SLURRY APPLICATION TECHNIQUESTO 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 (trail ing hose application and injection), in order to estimate the NH 3 emissions abatement achieved in comparison with con ventional surface spreading (surface broadcast, splashplate) on representative arable soils in the Basque Country and Navarra.

Agriculture produces up to 90% of anthropogenic amm onia (NH 3) emissions to the atmosphere and the land applicat ion of manure represents a major source of NH 3 emissions to the atmosphere in Europe (often 30–40 % of total national emissions).

Techniques to reduce NH 3 emissions following application to land have been i dentified to be among the most cost-effective measu res available to farmers to reduce NH 3 emissions.

INTRODUCTION

- Field experiments on three sites across Navarra an d 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 NH 3 emissions: dynamic chamber technique + photoacoust ic 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

RateTotal N (kg N ha-1) 123 60 300NH4-N (kg N ha-1) 109 56 232

Long., lat. (m) 560230E, 4718816N 610167E, 4702028N 521740E, 4748863NDate 8.9.2010 and 9.9.2010 27.7.2011 4.10.2011Time of fertilization 11:00 h 12:30 h 10:30 hMeasurement duration 6.5 and 6 hours (1 st and 2nd day) 6.5 hours 8 hoursTemperature range 14.7ºC - 22ºC 25ºC - 30ºC 17.5ºC - 30.3ºC

SoilTexture Sandy clay loam Clay loam Clay loampH 8.4 8.2 8.2Organic matter (%) 1.2 2.3 3.6

Slurry

Dry matter (%) 0.66 0.74 1.36pH 7.5 7.7 6.9Organic matter (%) 52.3 45.9 58.0Total N (%) 0.2 0.15 0.26

In SITE 1:No abatement of cumulative NH 3 emissions was observed using T technique becausethe entire surface was covered with slurry,due to the low dry matter of the slurry (0.66 %)and the high rate applied (60 m 3 ha-1).

In SITE 2:Reduction in NH 3 emissions withT technique (26.3 %) wasstatistically significant (p<0.05).

In SITE 3:Reduction in NH 3 emissions withJ technique (93.4 %) wasstatistically significant (p<0.05).

♣ Cumulative NH3 emissions during the first day follo wing pig slurry application were significantly redu ced using trailing hose and injection techniques, achieving a reduction of 26% and 93%, respectively, with respe ct to the conventional surface spreading.

♣ Nevertheless, there may be no reduction if the tech nique of trailing hose is not used properly and the entire surface is covered with slurry.

RAMIRAN 2013. 15th International Conference. Versai lles, France June 3 rd – 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.