H2S
Control for Dry Manure Storage Practices - Composting
| Pro |
Con |
| Value-added product if market is available |
Can be labor, equipment and management intensive to keep compost time down |
Composting can control hydrogen sulfide from solid manure because
it maintains an aerobic environment in the manure. Hydrogen sulfide
reduction benefits are not well documented. Disadvantages of composting
include the high levels of management required to keep the process
timely: minimal management leads to slow decomposition, whereas
intensive management can lead to quick. Another disadvantage is
the need to bring in a bulking agent (newspaper, straw, wood chips)
to maintain a balance of carbon and nitrogen during the decomposition
process. Loss of nitrogen to the atmosphere, primarily as ammonia,
is a problem that needs to be weighed carefully when considering
this option, particularly when controlling ammonia emissions is
also an objective.
Facilities should be covered to prevent
runoff due to precipitation, and storage on a compacted area
will prevent leaching of nutrients. Composting costs involve
construction of the site with compacted floor and roof, and continuous
maintenance of the compost with appropriate equipment to turn
and aerate the pile. For example, a 4x6x3 ft.-deep
pile may be turned more properly with a small skid loader, whereas
a considerably larger pile could be better handled with a front-end
loader.
Composting is a better option for operations that handle solid
manure. Liquid systems will require either some type of drying
process or a large amount of bulking agents to avoid problems during
the composting process.
Extension Publications
Abstracts, Conference Proceedings, Presentations and Reports
Journal Articles
Newsletter Articles
Other Links
|
