Environmental Impacts of Farm-Scale Composting Practices

Because of its agronomic benefits, farm-scale composting is an efficient means of recycling agricultural waste. Composting process is an aerobic degradation of fresh organic matter in mature compost. Nevertheless, according to the literature, composting may induce some environmental problems. The environmental impacts of composting will be described, along with an assessment of farm-scale composting practices which play a major role in pollution. The main environmental components potentially affected by composting pollution are air and water. Various gases released by composting, such as NH₃, CH₄ and N₂O, can impact air quality and are therefore studied because they all have environmental impacts and can be controlled by composting management. The effect on water quality can be evaluated by considering loss of NO₃ ^-, NH₄ ⁺, organic compounds and PO₄ ^3-. Technical evaluation criteria for the impact of farm-scale composting on the air are determined from the physical and chemical characteristics of the raw materials, the use of additives, the turning method and frequency and the duration of the composting operations. Regarding water, the weather conditions at the beginning of the composting operation, the location of the heap, the protection against rain, the water addition during the process, the use of covers and the recovery of leaching and runoff water are also taken into account. The two main practices which control the air and water pollution from composting are: the choice of the raw material which influences gas emissions and the choice of composting location which have an high effect on losses by leaching and runoff.     

Effects of cuvette surface material on ammonia‐, nitrous oxide‐, carbon dioxide‐, and methane‐concentration measurements

Closed‐chamber systems are commonly used to determine gaseous C and N emissions from agricultural soils. We investigated the effects of eight cuvette surfaces on two standard gas concentrations of NH₃, N₂O, CO₂, and CH₄ under laboratory conditions. Cuvette surface materials differentially affected gas adhesion or recovery as a function of the type and the concentration of the gases. Given the strong effects on results of gas measurements in closed‐chamber systems, both the type and the concentration of the measured gases need to be considered in selecting cuvette surface materials.     

Optimization of Culture Conditions for the Biodegradation of Lindane by the Polypore Fungus Ganoderma australe

The performance of a lab-scale model biofilter system was investigated to treat CH₄ gas emitted from modern sanitary landfills using landfill cover soil as the filter bed medium. From the batch experiment to measure the influence of moisture content and temperature of the filter medium on CH₄ removal capacity of a biofilter system, the optimum moisture content and temperature were found to be 10–15% by weight and 25–35°C, respectively. From the model biofilter experiment to measure the influence of inlet CH₄ concentration and landfill gas inflow rate on CH₄ removal capacity of a biofilter system, it was found that the removal percentage of CH₄ increased as the inlet CH₄ concentration decreased. Up to a landfill gas inflow rate of 1,000 mL min^?1 (empty bed retention time?=?7.7 min), the CH₄ removal efficiency of the biofilter was able to reach 100%. Up to CH₄ loading rate of 278.5 g CH₄ m^?3 h^?1, the ratio of elimination capacity to CH₄ loading rate was 1 while they were 0.68 and 0.34 at CH₄ loading rate of 417.8 and 557.1 g CH₄ m^?3 h^?1, respectively. The CH₄ removal by biofilter was also confirmed by measuring the change of temperature and moisture content of the filter medium in the model biofilter. The results demonstrated that the installation of a properly managed biofilter system should be effective to reduce atmospheric CH₄ emissions from modern sanitary landfills at the low CH₄ generation stage.     

The Use of Biofilters to Reduce Atmospheric Methane Emissions from Landfills: Part I. Biofilter Design

Previous laboratory research has shown that biofilters have the potential to reduce CH₄ emissions from landfills by as much as 83%. However, to achieve this level of CH₄ reduction biofilters must be properly designed. The present study was conducted to develop a method for properly designing biofilters based on landfill size and location. A quadratic equation was developed to describe the dependence of CH₄ oxidation rate in a sandy loam textured soil as a function of soil temperature, soil moisture and ammonium nitrogen concentration. Using this equation and the average monthly soil temperature and moisture contents for the largest cities of each of the 48 contiguous states, the monthly CH₄ oxidation rate at each location was calculated. Then, assuming a standard landfill depth of 27.6 m, and a standard area of 121,500 m², the required biofilter size was calculated. Finally, the ratio of biofilter size to landfill size was calculated. Design calculations for biofilters located in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas where the CH₄ oxidation rates are relatively high throughout the year indicate that the necessary biofilter sizes are small. In addition, biofilters in these states may be expected to be effective throughout the year. In contrast, the calculations indicated biofilter systems in the states of Idaho, Minnesota and North Dakota will have much lower efficiencies during much of the year due to unfavorable soil moisture and temperature ranges. Given proper design, installation and management, a biofilter should be capable of achieving a significant reduction in atmospheric CH₄ emission as compared to emissions from the same landfill without a biofilter.     

Temporal and spatial variability of the CH4 dynamics of landfill cover soils

Landfills are regarded as important sources of the atmospheric methane (CH₄), one of the major greenhouse gases. In this study we investigated the CH₄ dynamics of landfill cover soils in a long‐term field experiment. The CH₄ emission rates were low, mostly ranging from —100 to 100 μmol m^—2 h^—1, with prevailing negative values. Higher values of up to 130,000 μmol m^—2 h^—1, obtained concurrently, were due to mice burrows, connecting the reduced soil sections with the aerated ones. Thus, the appearance of spatial dissimilarity was the most important factor influencing temporal variability. Reducing the soil cover from 120 cm to at least 60 cm caused a tendency of increased CH₄ emission. The oxidation rates were also low and differed with low temporal variability from 1.0—11.9 nmol g^—1 h^—1 in 0—10 cm soil depth and 0—5.3 nmol g^—1 h^—1 in 40—50 cm, respectively. Highest rates were obtained at 25—30 % soil water content. A mapping of CH₄ concentrations over the whole landfill showed a large spatial variation with values of 3.1—343 nmol g^—1. Subsequent CH₄ emission rates were between —0.2 and 120,000 mmol m^—2 d^—1 and showed a positive correlation to the CH₄ concentrations (r = 0.993, P < 0.05). Thus, by a large scale mapping of CH₄ concentrations a low‐cost procedure is proposed to identify the hot spots of CH₄ release which should be treated with additional thick and well aerated cover soil materials.     

Effects of Landfill Gas on Growth and Nitrogen Fixation of Two Leguminous Trees (Acacia Confusa,Leucaena Leucocephala)

A study was made on the effects of landfill gas on ARA (acetylene reducing activity) of nodules of two woody legumes (Acacia confusa and Leucaena leucocephala) widespread on landfill sites in Hong Kong. The effects of the three main components of landfill gas, O₂, CO₂ and CH4, were first measured separately over a 1-hr period. Maximum ARA was found at 20% O₂ (close to atmospheric partial pressure) and ARA decreased as the O₂ decreased in the range of 16–1%. Acacia confusa nodular ARA was significantly inhibited at 30–50% CO₂, but not Leucaena leucocephala nodular ARA. CH₄ had no significant effect on ARA of either species. As the landfill gas concentrations in the landfill topsoil were mostly > 10% O₂ and < 10% CO₂, root nodules should fix N₂ effectively over these ranges of gases. A four-week test was conducted to assess the long-term influence of landfill gas on seedlings of the two legumes. Landfill gas and elevated CO₂ both suppressed their growth and their nodular ARA. Even under the influence of the gases, however, seedlings with nodules formed a higher biomass than seedlings lacking nodules. The growth of the two legumes under actual landfill conditions was investigated by transplanting non-inoculated and pre-inoculated seedlings to two landfill sites in Hong Kong: Junk Bay and Shuen Wan Landfill. After six months, most of the non-inoculated seedlings became infected: Acacia confusa 63 and 70%, Leucaena leucocephala 17 and 89%, respectively, at the test sites. The results indicate that there were free rhizobia at these landfill sites to infect the legumes and they had formed effective nodules to fix N₂ under landfill conditions.     

Techniques and strategies for the reduction of ammonia emission from agriculture

Agricultural production systems are recognised as a major source of atmospheric ammonia (NH₃). When deposited, the NH₃ may contribute to eutrophication of oligotrophic ecosystems and to acidification. Techniques for the reduction of ammonia emission are mainly focused on reducing the NH₃ emitting area exposed to the air, reducing the NH₃ or ammonium (NH ₄ ⁺ ) concentration in solution or reducing the exchange of air above the emitting surface. In this paper we present the techniques and changes in farming practice which may reduce NH₃ emission. Due to interactions between different sources on a farm, reduction in NH₃ emission from individual parts of the livestock production system cannot simply be added to give the net reduction in emission from the total system. Thus a whole farm system approach is needed for devising control strategies for reducing NH₃ emission.     

Rainwater Composition at a Regional Representative Site of a Semi-Arid Region of India

Rainwater samples (N = 51) were collected at Rampur, an areafree from anthropogenic activity during the monsoon of 1997 and1998. The concentration of ions follows a general pattern as Ca> NH₄ > Mg > SO₄ > Cl > F >Na > NO₃ > K > HCOO >CH₃ COO. The pH of precipitation ranges between 5.9 and 7.4. The levels of Ca and Mg at this site are higher than otherremote sites, probably dominated by particles of soil origin.Good correlation between Ca, NO₃, SO₄, HCOO and CH₃COO indicate that a fraction of NO₃, SO₄, HCOOand CH₃COO may be derived from soil or associated with Ca and Mg after neutralization. The order of neutralization factorCa (2.19) > NH₄ (1.26) = Mg (1.26) indicates that majorneutralization occurred by Ca. Factor analysis suggested thatCa, Mg, Na, K, NO₃, SO₄, HCOO and CH₃COO arecontributed by soil. NH₃ is known to exist as(NH₄)₂SO₄, NH₄NO₃ and NH₄Cl. Theymay be formed in the atmospheric water droplets by scavenging ofaerosols and reaction of gaseous species.     

Treatment of High Ammonium–Nitrogen Wastewater from Composting Facilities by Air Stripping and Catalytic Oxidation

Composting municipal wastewater sludge may generate composting wastewater (acid washer water and tunnel wastewater) with high ammonium–nitrogen (NH₄–N) concentration; this kind of wastewater is usually generated in a rather small daily amount. A procedure of air stripping with catalytic oxidation was developed and tested with pilot-scale and full-scale units for synthetic disposal of the high NH₄–N wastewaters from composting facilities. In air stripping, around 90% NH₄–N removal efficiency was reliably achieved with a maximum of 98%. A model to describe the stripping process efficiency was constructed, which can be used for process optimization. After catalytic oxidation, the concentrations in the outlet gas were acceptable for NH₃, NO_X, NO₂, and N₂O, but the NH₃ and N₂O concentrations limited the feasible loading range. The treatment costs were estimated in detail. The results indicate that air stripping with the catalytic oxidation process can be applied for wastewater treatment in composting facilities.     

Methane oxidation in a temperate coniferous forest soil: effects of inorganic N

Methane oxidation rates were measured in soils obtained from a coniferous forest in northern England. The effects of depth and added K⁺ (K₂SO₄), NH₄⁺ ((NH₄)₂SO₄) and NO₃⁻ (KNO₃) on potential CH₄ oxidation were investigated in a series of laboratory incubations. The humus (H) layer soil showed much greater CH₄ oxidation rates than the other soil layers, with maximal rates of 53 and 226 ng CH₄ gdw⁻¹ h⁻¹ when incubated with initial 10 and 1000 μl CH₄ l⁻¹, respectively. Additions of the solutes K⁺, NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ showed differing degrees of inhibition on CH₄ oxidation, which varied with the initial CH₄ concentration, the ion added, and the ion concentration. In general, inhibition by the ions was slightly greater for incubations with an initial concentration of 1000 μl CH₄ l⁻¹ than for 10 μl CH₄ l⁻¹ under otherwise identical conditions. For K⁺ and NH₄⁺ treatments, inhibitory rates were usually less than 15%, but at high K⁺ and NH₄⁺ concentrations inhibition could reach 50%, the inhibitory effects of NH₄⁺ were consistently slightly greater than those of K⁺ at the same concentration. In marked contrast to NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻ showed a very strong inhibitory effect. Added NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ produced via added NO₃⁻ reduction in anaerobic ‘microsites’ are probably toxic to CH₄-oxidizing bacteria. These results, together with those from other reports, suggest that NO₃⁻ may have a greater importance in the inhibition of CH₄ oxidation in forest soils than that attributed to NH₄⁺ and needs to be investigated in a wide range of soil types from various forests.     

石灰性土壤交换性钙和镁测定方法的研究

石灰性土壤交换性盐基组成的测定,通行的方法是采用70%乙醇溶液反复洗盐,再经pH 8.50.1 mol L-1氯化铵-70%乙醇(CH3CH2OH)溶液进行多次交换处理,测定交换液中的K+、Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+浓度。但此方法常常受操作步骤繁琐,以及土壤中碳酸盐的溶解量因多次浸提而增加的困扰,最终导致测定结果偏高。基于上述原因,选择不同浓度、不同pH的NH4OAc和NH4Cl 10种交换剂,对比分析10种交换剂中的碳酸盐溶解度和土壤交换性钙镁含量。结果表明,pH=8.5 1 mol L-1氯化铵-70%乙醇(CH3CH2OH)溶液较适合石灰性土壤交换性盐基的测定。此新方法是先经70%乙醇(CH3CH2OH)溶液洗盐,再用pH8.5 1 mol L-1氯化铵(NH4Cl)-70%乙醇(CH3CH2OH)溶液进行一次性交换处理,然后测定交换液的K+、Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+浓度,简化了操作程序的同时有效抑制了土壤碳酸盐的溶解,降低了测定结果的偏差。     

氢醌、双氰胺组合影响稻田甲烷和氧化亚氮排放研究进展

稻田是大气中CH4和N2O的重要来源。大量氮肥的施入不仅影响稻田CH4和N2O排放,且易造成NH3挥发、NO2-和NO3-淋溶及N2O、N2等形式的氮损失。脲酶抑制剂和硝化抑制剂通过缓解尿素水解及抑制硝化反硝化反应减少稻田N2O排放量,但对稻田CH4产生排放的影响报道不一。脲酶抑制剂氢醌(HQ)和硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)是近年来研究较多的组合。本文试图在前人研究的基础上,综述HQ和DCD的基本性质及作用机理,总结HQ/DCD组合在稻田生态系统的应用状况、使用效果及存在问题,并特别讨论了HQ/DCD施用对稻田CH4排放的影响机理,旨在为合理使用脲酶/硝化抑制剂、有效减缓稻田温室气体排放和提高氮肥利用率等方面提供理论依据。     

中国农业温室气体排放量测算及影响因素研究

农业生产过程所产生的温室气体在全球生产活动温室气体排放总量中占有很大比例,因此对农业温室气体的排放量进行测算并分析其影响因素,对实现农业节能减排有重要意义。本文基于1993―2011年中国农业生产的相关统计数据,借鉴前人关于农业生产中各种温室气体排放源排放系数的研究成果,测算了中国农业生产过程中的CH4、N2O和CO2排放量,并分析了影响因素。结果表明,CH4排放量基本平稳波动不大,N2O排放量从1993年的93.21万t波动增加到2011年的120.51万t,农业生产资料CO2排放量由15 626.98万t增加到31 258.10万t。种植业CO2排放主要分为土壤排放和生产资料排放,土壤CO2排放与大气温度、土壤温度、地表温度和土壤水分有关,生产资料CO2排放主要是由化肥和农药造成的;种植业CH4、N2O排放原因较为复杂,还有待进一步研究;动物肠道发酵CH4、N2O排放的影响因素主要取决于动物种类、饲料特性、饲养方式和粪便管理方式等。     

Structural Characteristics and Oxygen Consumption of the Epipelic Biofilm in Three Lowland Streams Exposed to Different Land Uses

Ammonia (NH₃) emission from nitrogen (N) fertilizers used in agriculture decreases N uptake by the crop and negatively impacts air quality. In order to better understand the factors influencing NH₃ emission from agriculture, this research was conducted with four major soils used for potato production: Biscayne Marl Soil (BMS, pH 7.27), and Krome Gravelly Loam (KGL, pH 7.69) from Florida; and Quincy Fine Sand (QFS, pH 6.65), and Warden Silt Loam (WSL, pH 6.46) from Washington. Potassium nitrate (KNO₃), ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃), ammonium sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄) or urea ((NH)₂CO) sources were evaluated for ammonia volatilization at 75 kg N ha^?1 rate. The soil water regime was maintained at either 20 or 80% of field capacity (FC), and incubated at 11, 20 or 29°C. Results indicated that NH₃ volatilization rate at 20% FC was 2 to 3-fold greater than that at 80% FC. The cumulative volatilization loss over 28 days ranged from 0.21% of N applied as NH₄NO₃ to 25.7% as (NH₄)₂SO₄. Results of this study demonstrate that NH₃ volatilization was accelerated at the low soil water regime. Moisture quotient (Q) is defined as a ratio of NH₃ emission rate at 20% FC to that at 80% FC both at the same temperature. The peak Q values of NH₃ volatilization were up to 20.8 for the BMS soil at 20°C, 112.9 for the KGL soil at 29°C, 19.0 for the QFS soil at 20°C, and 74.1 for the WSL soil at 29°C, respectively. Thus, maintaining a suitable soil water regime is important to minimize N-loss via NH₃ volatilization and to improve N uptake efficiency and air quality.     

Effects of incubation on forms of phosphorus added to an acid brown forest soil in Czechoslovakia

The effects of farmyard manure (FYM) and concentrated superphosphate (CSP) on the proportions of different fractions of inorganic P with the passage of time were studied through incubation of samples of an acid (pH 4.8, KCl) brown forest soil of Czechoslovakia.The application of FYM and CSP, either singly or in combination, resulted in appreciable increases in different forms of P over the controls. The amounts of P added to soil through FYM and CSP were recovered mainly in the (NH₄)₂SO₄-, CH₃COOH-, NH₄F- and NaOH-soluble fractions, whereas recovery in the H₂SO₄-soluble fraction was very small. The highest recovery of added P was in the (NH₄)₂SO₄-soluble fraction. The different fractions of P in the untreated as well as the incubated samples ranked in the order of NaOH-soluble P > (NH₄)₂SO₄-soluble P > NH₄F-soluble P > H₂SO₄-soluble P > CH₃COOH-soluble P, except after 15 and 45 days of incubation when CH₃COOH-soluble P was higher than the H₂SO₄-soluble fraction in samples that had received CSP and FYM+CSP. With prolongation of incubation time there was a decrease in (NH₄)₂SO₄-, CH₃COOH- and NH₄F-soluble P and a continuous increase in NaOH-soluble P, irrespective of treatments. The H₂SO₄-soluble P changed little during incubation. The use of FYM alone or with CSP resulted in a slower rate of decrease in the forms of P extracted with (NH₄)₂SO₄. Moreover, in the control the decrease in (NH₄)₂SO₄-, CH₃COOH- and NH₄F-soluble P and the consequent increase in the NaOH-soluble fraction were more pronounced after 90 and 180 days of incubation.     

Effect of Woody Peat as an Additive on Maturity and Gaseous Emissions During Pig Manure Composting

Woody peat was used as an additive to compost with pig manure in 1.2 m³ composting reactors under aerobic conditions for a 77?days period to estimate the effect on the compost maturity and gaseous emissions (NH₃, N₂O, and CH₄). Pig manure was also composted with cornstalks (the traditional method) as a control treatment. The results showed that both cornstalks and woody peat composts reached the required maturity standard. Composting with woody peat as a bulking agent was found to reduced NH₃ emissions by 36% than the cornstalks amended treatment. Although CH₄ emission increased by adding woody peat, N₂O emission was considerably reduced, resulting in a slight decrease in total greenhouse gas emissions. More importantly, woody peat could reduce the losses of total carbon and total nitrogen, improve the compost quality as fertilizer.     

Nitrous oxide, methane and ammonia emissions following slurry spreading on grassland

In Sweden, 90% of ammonia (NH₃) emissions to the atmosphere originate from agriculture, predominantly from animal manure handling. It is well known that incorporation of manure into soil can reduce NH₃ emissions after spreading. However, there is a risk of increased nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emissions caused by bacterial activity and limited oxygen availability under these conditions. A full‐scale injector was developed and evaluated in a field experiment on grassland. Cattle slurry was either injected in closed slots 5 cm below ground or band spread on the soil surface above the crop canopy at a rate of 25 t ha^?1. In a control treatment, no slurry was applied. During a 5‐day period after application, NH₃ emissions were measured using an equilibrium concentration method. Gas samples for estimating CH₄ and N₂O emissions were also collected during 7 weeks following slurry application. Injection in closed slots resulted in no detectable NH₃ emissions. After band spreading, however, NH₃ emissions corresponded to nearly 40% of the total ammoniacal nitrogen in the applied slurry. The injection of slurry gave rise to a broad peak of N₂O emissions during the first 3 weeks after application. In total, for the measuring period, N₂O emissions corresponded to 0.75 kg N ha^?1. Band spreading resulted in only a very small N₂O release of about 0.2 kg N ha^?1 during the same period. Except for the first sampling occasion, the soil was predominantly a sink for CH₄ in all the treatments. The use of the injector without slurry application reduced grass yield during unfavourable growing conditions. In conclusion, shallow injection in closed slots seems to be a promising technique to reduce negative environmental impacts from NH₃ emissions with a limited release of N₂O and CH₄.     

Above and Below Ground Measurements of Greenhouse Gases from Swine Effluent Amended Soil

Abstract

As a means of economic disposal and to reduce need for chemical fertilizer, waste generated from swine production is often applied to agricultural land. However, there remain many environmental concerns about this practice. Two such concerns, contribution to the greenhouse effect and stratospheric ozone depletion by gases emitted from waste‐amended soils, have not been thoroughly investigated. An intact core study at Auburn University (32 36′N, 85 36′W) was conducted to determine the source‐sink relationship of three greenhouse gases in three Alabama soils (Black Belt, Coastal Plain, and Appalachian Plateau regions) amended with swine waste effluent. Soil cores were arranged in a completely random design, and treatments used for each soil type consisted of a control, a swine effluent amendment (112 kg N ha^?1), and an ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) fertilizer amendment (112 kg N ha^?1). During a 2‐year period, a closed‐chamber technique was used to determine rates of emission of nitrous oxide (N₂O)–nitrogen (N), carbon dioxide (CO₂)–carbon (C), and methane (CH₄)–C from the soil surface. Gas probes inserted into the soil cores were used to determine concentrations of N₂O‐N and CO₂‐C from depths of 5, 15, and 25 cm. Soil water was collected from each depth using microlysimeters at the time of gas collection to determine soil‐solution N status. Application of swine effluent had an immediate effect on emissions of N₂O‐N, CO₂‐C, and CH₄‐C from all soil textures. However, greatest cumulative emissions and highest peak rates of emission of all three trace gases, directly following effluent applications, were most commonly observed from sandier textured Coastal Plain and Appalachian Plateau soils, as compared to heavier textured Black Belt soil. When considering greenhouse gas emission potential, soil type should be a determining factor for selection of swine effluent waste disposal sites in Alabama.     

Induction of enhanced CH4 oxidation in soils: NH4 inhibition patterns

The influence of NH₄⁺ on microbial CH₄ oxidation is still poorly understood. Therefore, the influence of NH₄Cl and (NH₄)₂SO₄ on CH₄ oxidation was studied in soils at the different stages of the induction of enhanced methanotrophic activity. After a brief peak in the methanotrophic activity, a steady state was observed in which NH₄⁺ inhibited CH₄ oxidation at low CH₄ concentrations, and stimulated CH₄ oxidation at high concentrations. Chloride did not strongly inhibit CH₄ oxidation during this phase. During a second phase methanotrophic activity increased again. Ammonium no longer stimulated CH₄ oxidation, and Cl⁻ became an important source of uncompetitive inhibition. It was hypothesized that type I methanotrophs dominated during the first, soil-N-dependent phase while N₂-fixing type II methanotrophs dominated the second, soil-N-independent phase.