ARS | Publication request: REDUCTION OF AMMONIA EMISSIONS FROM TREATED ANAEROBIC SWINE LAGOONS

Submitted to: Proceedings of American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 17, 2005
Publication Date: July 17, 2005
Citation: Szogi, A.A., Vanotti, M.B., Stansbery, A.E. 2005. Reduction of ammonia emissions from treated anaerobic swine lagoons [abstract]. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Annual International Meeting, July 17-20, 2005, Tampa, Florida. 2005 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: There is a need for treatment technologies that can eliminate environmental problems associated with anaerobic lagoons. These technologies must be able to capture nutrients, kill pathogens and reduce emissions of ammonia and nuisance odors. To meet these needs, a full-scale wastewater treatment plant was demonstrated in a 4,360-pig production unit in a finishing farm in Duplin Co., NC. Once the treatment plant was operational, flow of raw manure into the corresponding lagoon was discontinued and the lagoon was converted to store treated wastewater. Water quality was monitored in the treated lagoon (lagoon #1) and a second traditional lagoon (lagoon #2). A passive flux sampler method was used to measure ammonia gas fluxes from the treated and traditional anaerobic lagoons on a monthly basis from February to November 2004. Significant differences in water quality characteristics were observed after manure flush to lagoon #1 was halted and 100% of the manure generated was processed through the treatment plant. The quality of the liquid in lagoon #1 was rapidly improved as clean effluent replaced dirty liquid. Average ammonia-N concentrations during the emission study were 63 and 415 mg/L for the treated and traditional lagoon, respectively. Ammonia-N emissions were markedly affected by weather conditions, water temperature and water quality. During cold weather, emissions in both treated and traditional lagoons were below 7 kg ammonia-N/ha/day. However, water quality differences significantly affected ammonia emissions during warmer weather conditions. We measured emissions up to 73 kg ammonia-N/ha/day from the traditional lagoon versus less than 12 kg ammonia-N/ha/day from the treated lagoon. These results demonstrate the environmental benefits of using wastewater technologies alternatives that produce clean water and substantially reduce ammonia emissions from traditional anaerobic lagoons.