METHANE EMISSION AFTER ON-FARM AEROBIC TREATMENT IN PIG SLURRY
LAGOON
Viguria, M., Arriaga, H., Merino, P.
NEIKER-Tecnalia, Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Derio, Spain
1. Introduction
Liquid manure storage facilities are sources of methane (CH4) emission, which contributes to
global warming (Berg et al., 2006). Slurry aeration introduces oxygen into the slurry and oxidizes
organic matter to CO2 and H2O, decreasing CH4 emission. The extent of this reduction has, so far,
not been fully quantified. In this study, an on-farm experiment was performed in order to estimate
CH4 emissions from aerobic treated pig slurry storage.
2. Material and Methods
A slurry lagoon (AR, 768 m3) was tested after an aerobic treatment carried out twice a day (one
hour in the morning and in the afternoon), from 20th to 23rd June 2011. The treatment consisted on
an intermittent aeration by submerged ejector aerator combined with a mixer. After morning
aeration, CH4 emission from lagoon was measured using a sampling system based on the
dynamic chamber system (Peu et al., 1999). Samples were determined continuously in situ by
Bruel & Kjaer 1302 photoacoustic analyzer.
3. Results and Discussion
After the first aeration treatment (day 4), CH4 emission from AR increased by 19.98% with respect
to averaged CH4 volatilization from the days before (Figure 1). However, during the following days,
CH4 emission decreased considerably, even if air temperature increased in course of the aeration
process. This reduction could be due to a lower activity of methane-producing microorganisms in
response of the aerobic treatment.
1200
30
1000
25
800
20
600
15
400
10
200
5
0
Slurry temperature (ºC)
Emission (mg m
-2 -1
h )
Slurry T
AR
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Day
Fig 1. Pattern of daily CH4 emission (aeration was carried out on days pointed by arrows).
4. Conclusion
CH4 formation could be reduced by 81% after 4 aeration days.
Acknowledgements
This work has been funded by BATFARM Interreg-Atlantic Area Project (2009-1/071): Evaluation
of best available techniques to decrease air and water pollution in animal farms.
References
Berg W., Brunsch R., Pazsiczki I. 2006. Greenhouse gas emissions from covered slurry compared
with uncovered during storage. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 112, 129–134.
Peu P., Beline F., Martinez J. 1999. A floating chamber for estimating nitrous oxide emissions from
farm scale treatment units for livestock wastes, Journal of Agricultural Enginering Research 73,
101-104.