Odor Control for Liquid Manure Storage Practices - Manure Additives

In a dilute manure handling system, bacterial populations are more likely to occur in quantities sufficient to provide a balanced production and utilization of intermediate degradation compounds. Addition of supplemental bacteria or enzymes may enhance the rate of processing because conditions are suitable for bacterial growth and function. Enzymatic or chemical additions are more likely to have a greater benefit on odor intensity in dilute systems than a slurry or solid system. Unpublished field reports indicate a direct relationship between lower levels of odor and the presence of anaerobic photosynthetic bacterial populations in lagoons. The anaerobic photosynthetic bacterial utilize many of the odorous compounds for bacterial growth. Reduced odor from lagoons where the pink-rose color is present, which is indicative of the populations, is likely the result of degradation and utilization of such odorous intermediates. Mode of action of many commercially available products remains unknown, but it is possible that some enzymes enhance biological decomposition of odorous compounds to less odorous end products. However, recommendations for modes of action or products that are routinely effective are not available.

Extension Publications

• PM 1970a Practices to Reduce Odor from Livestock Operations (pdf)
• PM 1970b Practices to Reduce Odor From Livestock Operations Flowchart (pdf)
• EDC 162h Air Quality and Animal Agriculture (pdf)
• PM 1936 Air Quality Resources for Iowa Animal Agriculture (pdf)
• PM 1935 Gaseous Emissions from Animal Agriculture (pdf)
• PM 1963a The Science of Smell Part 1: Odor perception and Physiological Response (pdf)
• PM 1963b The Science of Smell Part 2: Odor Chemistry (pdf)
• PM 1963c The Science of Smell Part 3: Odor detection and measurement (pdf)
• PM 1963d The Science of Smell Part 4: Principles of Odor Control (pdf)
• PM 1964 Odor Control Methods Used by Iowa Pork Producers (pdf)
• PM-1754d Iowa Odor Control Demonstration Project Pit Additives (pdf)
• FS925-A Understanding Livestock Odors (pdf)

Abstracts, Conference Proceedings, Presentations and Reports

• Odor Rating System Demonstration Project U of MN
• Final Report Evaluation of Commercial Manure Additives (pdf)
• NPB Testing of Manure Additives for Odor Control: Column Testing (pdf)

Journal Articles

Newsletter Articles

• Principles of Diet Manipulation

Other Links

• Section 3 Outdoor Air Quality (MWPS-18)
• Minimizing Odor Generation, LPES Curriculum Lesson 41 (pdf)