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Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Gypsum reduces methane emission during the storage of pig slurry

W. Berg A B and A. Model A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim (ATB), D-14469 Potsdam, Germany.

B Corresponding author. Email: wberg@atb-potsdam.de

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(2) 96-98 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA07226
Submitted: 31 July 2007  Accepted: 4 December 2007   Published: 2 January 2008

Abstract

Methane is the most prevalent greenhouse gas from animal agriculture. The main source of methane emission is ruminant metabolism; however, animal manure also makes a significant contribution. Manure management can offer possibilities for emission reduction. The influence of sulfur, in the form of gypsum (CaSO4), on methane emission from liquid pig manure during storage was determined at the laboratory scale. Manure was stored in open vessels (75 kg/vessel) over a period of 14 weeks. Three different dosages of gypsum, 1, 2 and 3 kg per vessel, were added at the beginning of the experimental period. There was a linear correlation between methane concentration and amount of added gypsum. Adding 4% gypsum to pig slurry by mass (3 kg) almost halved methane emission. Nearly all nitrous oxide emissions were eliminated by the gypsum treatments.


References


Alford AR, Hegarty RS, Parnell PF, Cacho OJ, Herd RM, Griffith GR (2006) The impact of breeding to reduce residual feed intake on enteric methane emissions from the Australian beef industry. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 813–820.
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