Evaluation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Dairy Manure
Channel: Livestock & Poultry Environ. Learning Community
Date: 2017-05-04

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from dairy manure can be affected by barns, bedding and manure collection, as well as processing and storage. To reduce life cycle environmental impacts of milk production, it is important to understand the mechanisms involved in production and emission of GHGs from dairy manure. In addition to the GHGs emitted from the manure surface, the production of these gases in manure at different depths is an important but poorly understood driver of emissions. Because it is often not practical to measure GHG production and emissions directly in the field, simulation of these processes, both experimentally and through modeling, is needed to help understand the GHG emission mechanisms. Because manure samples are heterogeneous and their composition varies based on the bedding materials and bedding rate as well as cleaning frequency, it is also necessary to consider the impacts of these different types of manure heterogeneity and their impact on emission processes. Another important element that can impact GHGs emissions from dairy manure is oxygen. GHG emission rates can be different based on manure storage status (aerobic, anaerobic, and mixed conditions) and storage time. Several other factors, such as manure bedding materials, bedding rate, applied stress, temperature and moisture content can also impact the microbial activities that produces these GHGs. Our goals are to enhance understanding of the relationships between these factors and GHG emissions from dairy manure, and to identify strategies by which substantial reductions in GHG can be realized in a practical way.

Proceedings available at: http://articles.extension.org/74248