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Effect of acidification with sulphuric acid on the volatilization of ammonia from cow and pig slurries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. J. Stevens ,
R. J. Laughlin  and
J. P. Frost
R. J. Stevens
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Food and Agricultural Chemistry Research Division, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, UK
R. J. Laughlin
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Food and Agricultural Chemistry Research Division, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, UK
J. P. Frost
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co Down, BT26 6DR, UK
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Summary

Pig and cow slurries were applied to bare soil surfaces in the laboratory. Volatilization of NH3 was measured using ventilated enclosures for 3·25 days after slurry application. Slurries were acidified to pH values between 7 and 4 with 5 M H2SO4. Lowering cow slurry pH to 5·5 decreased NH2 volatilization by 95%, while lowering pig slurry pH to 6·0 decreased NH3 volatilization by 82%. A field experiment, measuring the volatilization of NH3 for 2 h after application to grassland stubble of slurry acidified to pH values between 7·5 and 5, gave similar results to the laboratory study.

Titration curves were constructed within the pH range of 9 to 4 with cow and pig slurries. There was a significant (P < 0·05) positive correlation between the NH4+-N content of the slurries and the volume of acid required to attain a target pH of 6·0 for pig slurries and a pH of 5·5 for cow slurries. One litre of slurry containing 2 g of NH4+-N required c. 20 ml of 5 M H2SO4 for acidification.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 113 , Issue 3 , December 1989 , pp. 389 - 395
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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