Biochar amendment to cattle slurry reduces NH3 emissions during storage without risk of higher NH3 emissions after soil application of the solid fraction

Abstract

Cattle slurry storage is a major source of gaseous N emissions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of biochar, clinoptilolite and elemental sulfur (S°) on (1) NH3 and greenhouse gas emissions during storage of cattle slurry and (2) after soil application of the enriched solid fractions; and (3) on the agronomic quality of the solid and liquid fractions. In the first phase, biochar was added to the slurry (10 g L-1); subsequently in the second phase, clinoptilolite (50 g L-1), S° (1 g L-1) and 40 g L-1 extra biochar were added. Gaseous emissions were monitored by a semi-continuous multi-gas analyzer and the agronomic quality of solid and liquid fractions was assessed after separation. The enriched solid fractions were applied to soil to study the effects on gaseous emissions, N and C mineralization. Amendment of biochar reduced NH3 emissions during cattle slurry storage by 12% during the first 7 days. Extra amendment of biochar, clinoptilolite and S° in combination with biochar resulted in a decrease of NH3 emissions of approximately 20%. The N sorbed from the slurry by the biochar was not released as NH3 during soil application of the solid fractions and was not released as mineral N in the short term (within 28 days). A short-term positive priming effect of biochar on the C mineralization of manure and biochar-manure mixture applied to soil was observed. The biochar-enriched solid fractions contained more C, total and organic N and water-available P with a slow release.