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TECHNICAL REPORT
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANTS AND TRACE GASES

Greenhouse Gas Emissions during Cattle Feedlot Manure Composting

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, P.O. Box 3000, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1J 4B1

Corresponding author (haoxy{at}em.agr.ca)

Received for publication May 17, 2000. The emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) during feedlot manure composting reduces the agronomic value of the final compost and increases the greenhouse effect. A study was conducted to determine whether GHG emissions are affected by composting method. Feedlot cattle manure was composted with two aeration methods—passive (no turning) and active (turned six times). Carbon lost in the forms of CO₂ and CH₄ was 73.8 and 6.3 kg C Mg^-1 manure for the passive aeration treatment and 168.0 and 8.1 kg C Mg^-1 manure for the active treatment. The N loss in the form of N₂O was 0.11 and 0.19 kg N Mg^-1 manure for the passive and active treatments. Fuel consumption to turn and maintain the windrow added a further 4.4 kg C Mg^-1 manure for the active aeration treatment. Since CH₄ and N₂O are 21 and 310 times more harmful than CO₂ in their global warming effect, the total GHG emission expressed as CO₂–C equivalent was 240.2 and 401.4 kg C Mg^-1 manure for passive and active aeration. The lower emission associated with the passive treatment was mainly due to the incomplete decomposition of manure and a lower gas diffusion rate. In addition, turning affected N transformation and transport in the windrow profile, which contributed to higher N₂O emissions for the active aeration treatment. Gas diffusion is an important factor controlling GHG emissions. Higher GHG concentrations in compost windrows do not necessarily mean higher production or emission rates.

Abbreviations: GHG, greenhouse gas

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