ARS | Publication request: Carbon offsets from improved swine manure management using aerobic treatment technology

Submitted to: International Soil and Water Conservation Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 17, 2010
Publication Date: July 21, 2010
Citation: Vanotti, M.B., Szogi, A.A. 2010. Carbon offsets from improved swine manure management using aerobic treatment technology [abstract]. 65th International Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference, July 18-21, 2010, St. Louis, Missouri.

Technical Abstract: Aerobic treatment of manure is an accepted manure management system under protocols adopted through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Our objectives were to determine greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from replacement of anaerobic lagoons with aerobic treatment technology in USA swine farms. Emission reductions were determined using UNFCCC methodology in conjunction with monitoring information collected during full-scale demonstration of a new aerobic treatment system in North Carolina that included an on-farm wastewater treatment system (liquid-solid separation, aerobic biological nitrogen removal and chemical phosphorus removal) and a centralized facility that used aerobic composting to process the separated solids. Emission sources for both the project and baseline manure management system were methane and nitrous oxide emissions. Emission reductions resulted from the difference between total project and baseline emissions. Replacement of the lagoon technology with the cleaner aerobic technology reduced GHG emissions by 97%. Thus, replacement of anaerobic swine lagoons with cleaner aerobic technology could be an important offset activity with substantial credit generation potential.