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Greenhouse Gas and Ammonia Emissions from Different Stages of Liquid Manure Management Chains: Abatement Options and Emission Interactions
Author(s) -
Mohankumar Sajeev Erangu Purath,
Winiwarter Wilfried,
Amon Barbara
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2017.05.0199
Subject(s) - greenhouse gas , manure , manure management , environmental science , anaerobic digestion , liquid manure , nitrous oxide , environmental engineering , waste management , methane , chemistry , agronomy , engineering , ecology , organic chemistry , biology
Farm livestock manure is an important source of ammonia and greenhouse gases. Concerns over the environmental impact of emissions from manure management have resulted in research efforts focusing on emission abatement. However, questions regarding the successful abatement of manure‐related emissions remain. This study uses a meta‐analytical approach comprising 89 peer‐reviewed studies to quantify emission reduction potentials of abatement options for liquid manure management chains from cattle and pigs. Analyses of emission reductions highlight the importance of accounting for interactions between emissions. Only three out of the eight abatement options considered (frequent removal of manure, anaerobic digesters, and manure acidification) reduced ammonia (3–60%), nitrous oxide (21–55%), and methane (29–74%) emissions simultaneously, whereas in all other cases, tradeoffs were identified. The results demonstrate that a shift from single‐stage emission abatement options towards a whole‐chain perspective is vital in reducing overall emissions along the manure management chain. The study also identifies some key elements like proper clustering, reporting of influencing factors, and explicitly describing assumptions associated with abatement options that can reduce variability in emission reduction estimates. Prioritization of abatement options according to their functioning can help to determine low‐risk emission reduction options, specifically options that alter manure characteristics (e.g., reduced protein diets, anaerobic digestion, or slurry acidification). These insights supported by comprehensive emission measurement studies can help improve the effectiveness of emission abatement and harmonize strategies aimed at reducing air pollution and climate change simultaneously. Core Ideas Emission reductions of abatement options were quantified in the manure management chain. Significant emission interactions exist in manure management chains. Single‐stage emission abatement needs to shift to a whole‐chain perspective. Understanding variability of results minimizes uncertainty of emission reductions. A holistic management strategy is required to tackle air pollution and climate change.