REDUCTION OF AMMONIA EMISSION FROM LIVESTOCK HOUSING

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for reducing emission of ammonia from a livestock housing. The method comprises applying a composition comprising a compound that restrains ammonia volatilization onto freshly excreted manure by an animal in the livestock housing. Because the compound is deposited onto freshly excreted manure, ammonia volatilization is tackled at the source, rather than at a later moment, e.g. in a manure pit, when contact of faeces and urine, and therefore the conversion of urea to ammonia under the influence of urease has already led to volatilization of ammonia.

Claims

1. Method for reducing emission of ammonia from a livestock housing, the method comprising applying a composition comprising a compound that restrains ammonia volatilization onto freshly excreted manure by an animal in the livestock housing.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the freshly excreted manure has not been collected in a collecting means.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein application of the composition is performed at least within 4 hours, preferably within 3 hours, more preferably within 2 hours, even more preferably within 1 hour, even more preferably within 30 minutes, most preferably within 10 minutes of excretion of the manure by the animal.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is a liquid composition, and wherein application is performed by continuously or intermittently applying, preferably spraying, the composition onto a floor surface area of the livestock housing, thereby being applied on any manure present on the floor surface area.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein applying the composition onto the floor surface area is performed at regular time intervals, preferably every 4 hours, more preferably every 3 hours, even more preferably every 2 hours, most preferably every 1 hour.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein application is performed by applicating means mounted on a manure scraper.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein application is performed by applicating means mounted on a robot, preferably a smart robot, which is freely moveable over the floor of the livestock housing.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein application is performed by a sprinkler installation disposed above the floor of the livestock housing.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein spraying the composition onto the floor surface area is performed in response to excretion of manure onto the floor surface area.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the manure and the applied composition are collected in a manure collecting means, and wherein additional composition is applied on the collected manure in the collecting means.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein the livestock housing is equipped with a floor design for separating faeces and urine and/or with scrubbers for scrubbing of ventilation air of the livestock housing.

12. Method according to claim 1, wherein the compound that restrains ammonia volatilization is chosen from the group consisting of water soluble calcium salts, water soluble magnesium salts, and/or combinations thereof.

13. Method according to claim 1, wherein the compound that restrains ammonia volatilization is magnesium chloride and/or magnesium sulphate and/or magnesium hydrosulphate.

14. Method according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a urease inhibitor.

15. Method according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises an acid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG. 1 displays a schematic top view of an animal housing facility in which an embodiment of the method according to the invention is performed.

[0057] FIG. 2 displays a schematic top view of an animal housing facility in which alternative embodiments of the method according to the invention are performed.

[0058] FIG. 3 displays a close up top view of the animal housing facility of FIG. 2.

[0059] FIG. 4 displays a close up top view of a further alternative embodiment for arrangement of applicating means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0060] FIG. 1 is a schematic overview an embodiment of the method according to the invention. A livestock housing facility 1, such as a dairy housing, houses multiple animals 2, such as cows. The animals excrete manure 3 in alleys 4. A composition applicating means 5, in this case a spray nozzle mounted onto a manure robot 6 sprays the composition onto floor surface area 12 and onto the manure 3, after which the manure 3 is moved into the opening 7 leading to a manure collecting means, such as a manure pit, by the manure robot.

[0061] In the livestock housing facility 1′ of FIG. 2, the composition is applied by applicating means 5′, such as spray nozzles, mounted onto manure scraper 8 which is movable along central line 9 for moving the manure into opening 7 leading the moved manure to a manure collecting means, such as a manure pit. The composition may additionally or alternatively be applied by applicating means 5″, such as spray nozzles. The applicating means 5″ may be suspended above the alley 4, or they may be attached to animal stall elements 11. Furthermore, sensors 10 for sensing the presence of manure may be placed in or above the floor. The sensors may for example be suspended above the alley 4, or they may be affixed to animal stall elements 11. Also within the collecting facility, applicating means may be present.

[0062] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in response to sensing of the presence of manure 3a by sensor 10a, both the associated applicating means 5a″ suspended above the floor may be activated, thereby applicating the composition in response to excretion of the manure 3a. Alternatively, in the case the composition applicating means is mounted onto a robot such as a manure robot 6, or onto a manure scraper 8, the sensing of manure by a sensor 10 may trigger the robot or manure scraper to move towards the manure, and then activate the mounted applicating means 5 or 5′ in the presence of the manure.

[0063] Shown in FIG. 4 is an embodiment in which applicating means 5′″ are mounted in or onto a composition transportation means 13, such as a tube or hose located at a boundary between animal stall elements 11 and alley 4. A tube or hose may for example comprise openings for spraying the composition, or the tube or hose may be mounted with spray nozzles, for spraying the composition onto the floor.

[0064] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.

[0065] The terms “a”/“an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language, not excluding other elements or steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the invention.

[0066] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Example

[0067] 100 L of mixed manure was collected from a dairy farm, and kept in a closed container at a temperature of about 3° C. to 6° C. for 6 days. After that period, the manure was mixed again before filling a sample drum with a diameter of 23.5 cm and a height of 58.5 cm (thus with a volume of 25 L) with 10 kg of the mixed cow manure. This led to a manure “height” of 22 cm and a headspace of 36.5 cm. 10.575 kg of MgCl.sub.2/1000 L of manure was added as a 32% solution in water (25 L/1000 L of manure) and thoroughly mixed with the manure before airtight closing the drum. A control drum without added MgCl.sub.2 was also prepared.

[0068] The NH.sub.3 and CH.sub.4 concentration of the headspace were daily measured with an RAE-multigas meter: A measuring hose was connected to the drum and the measurement was performed for 5 minutes, until a constant value was reached. During 4 days, the NH.sub.3 concentration measured for the sample drum was about 21% lower than that of the control drum. Surprisingly, the measured CH.sub.4 concentration was also reduced by about 34% with respect to the control sample.

[0069] The experiment was repeated with addition of 2.115 kg of MgCl.sub.2/1000 L of manure as a 32% solution in water (5 L/1000 L of manure) instead of the 10.575 kg of MgCl.sub.2/1000 L of manure. This experiment showed a reduction of the CH.sub.4 concentration of 19% with respect to the control sample. Thus, the reduction in CH.sub.4 emission was dependent on the MgCl.sub.2 concentration.

[0070] The experiments are repeated with magnesium hydrosulphate. Surprisingly, the emission of NH.sub.3 is reduced as compared to magnesium chloride.

[0071] The invention furthermore relates to the following clauses:

1. Method for reducing emission of ammonia from a livestock housing, the method comprising applying a composition comprising a compound that restrains ammonia volatilization onto freshly excreted manure by an animal in the livestock housing.
2. Method according to clause 1, wherein application of the composition is performed at least within 4 hours, preferably within 3 hours, more preferably within 2 hours, even more preferably within 1 hour, even more preferably within 30 minutes, most preferably within 10 minutes of excretion of the manure by the animal.
3. Method according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the composition is a liquid composition, and wherein application is performed by intermittently spraying the composition onto a floor surface area of the livestock housing, thereby being applied on any manure present on the floor surface area.
4. Method according to clause 3, wherein spraying the composition onto the floor surface area is performed at regular time intervals, preferably every 4 hours, more preferably every 3 hours, even more preferably every 2 hours, most preferably every 1 hour.
5. Method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein application is performed by applicating means mounted on a manure scraper.
6. Method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein application is performed by applicating means mounted on a robot which is freely moveable over the floor of the livestock housing.
7. Method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein application is performed by a sprinkler installation disposed above the floor of the livestock housing.
8. Method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein spraying the composition onto the floor surface area is performed in response to excretion of manure onto the floor surface area.
9. Method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the manure and the applied composition are collected in a manure collecting means, and wherein additional composition is applied on the collected manure in the collecting means.
10. Method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the livestock housing is equipped with a floor design for separating feces and urine and/or with scrubbers for scrubbing of ventilation air of the livestock housing.
11. Method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the compound that restrains ammonia volatilization is chosen from the group consisting of water soluble calcium salts, water soluble magnesium salts, and/or combinations thereof.
12. Method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the compound that restrains ammonia volatilization is magnesium chloride and/or magnesium sulphate.
13. Method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the composition further comprises a urease inhibitor.
14. Method according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the composition further comprises an acid.