Methane emissions from cattle manure during short-term storage with and without a plastic cover in different seasons. (10th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, H. R.; Sun, K. J.; Wang, L. F.; Teng, Z. W.; Zhang, L. Y.; Fu, T.; Gao, T. Y.
• Is Part Of: Journal of agricultural science. Volume 159:Number 3/4(2021)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2021-04-10
• Subjects: Plastic sheet covering -- solid manure -- static chamber -- temperature; Agriculture -- Periodicals; 630.5
• DOI: 10.1017/S0021859621000423
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8596

Abstract

Abstract: Manure is a primary source of methane (CH4 ) emissions into the atmosphere. A large proportion of CH4 from manure is emitted during storage, but this varies with storage methods. In this research, we tested whether covering a manure heap with plastic reduces CH4 emission during a short-term composting process. A static chamber method was used to detect the CH4 emission rate and the change of the physicochemical properties of cattle manure which was stored either uncovered (treatment UNCOVERED) or covered with plastic (treatment COVERED) for 30-day periods during the four seasons? The dry matter content of the COVERED treatment was significantly less than the UNCOVERED treatment ( P < 0.01), and the C/N ratio of the COVERED treatment significantly greater than the UNCOVERED treatment ( P > 0.05) under high temperature. In the UNCOVERED treatment, average daily methane (CH4 ) emissions were in the order summer > spring > autumn > winter. CH4 emissions were positively correlated with the temperature ( R 2 = 0.52, P < 0.01). Compared to the UNCOVERED treatment, the daily average CH4 emission rates from COVERED treatment manure were less in the first 19 days of spring, 13 days of summer, 10 days of autumn and 30 days of winter. In summary, covering the manure pile with plastic reduces the evaporation of water during storage; and in winter, long-term covering with plastic film reduces the CH4 emissions during the storage of manure.