1. Advances in Manure Management and Areas of Research Need Dr. Bruce T. Bowman Chair, CARC Expert Committee on Manure Management CCFIA Mid-Program Review March 21-22, 2002 Winnipeg, MB

2. Manure research has been conducted for well over a century by our forefathers Technology has advanced a lot … but … Dealing with same major issues –Odour –Water quality Don’t seem to be fully resolving issues Background

3. Background (cont’d) Challenge – no “standard manure system” Each manure system quite “site/farm-specific” Thus.. difficult to compare / assess systems What works for one farmer may not for another –Best practices can be quite specific for environmental or economic reasons

4. Getting the Right Information Tremendous increase in information on many manure-related issues … processes, practices.. Information is widely scattered.. Some anecdotal Quality of information quite diverse – same original information may appear in multiple formats –Grey literature - Extension –Refereed publications - Popular press –Web-based information

5. The Current Problem Liquid manure systems - more popular since 1970’s – labour-saving – relatively small About decade ago, livestock operations started to get much larger – driven by global competition Geographic concentration of livestock operations Inherent weaknesses became more evident –Increased odour –Excess volumes of water – land application –Excess nutrients

6. Recent Research and Technology Advances Odour Reducing dust levels in barns (oils) Bio-filters to reduce odours leaving barns Pit additives - most are not cost-effective Advances in composting technologies - reduce odour and volume

7. Recent Research and Technology Advances Injection techniques for liquid slurries (also disrupt macropores) Negative air pressure covers for storage lagoons Setbacks, shelterbelts - isolate barns from public Pelletizing techniques for odour and water volume reduction Odour

8. Recent Research and Technology Advances Improved (& more frequent) manure analysis Manure applied based on crop requirements (NMPs); both N & P limitations being introduced in several provinces - prevent P excesses in soil Animal diet efficiency - enzymes to improve nutrient utilization —> reducing P excretion Precision application of liquid manure - variable application rate; zone management of nutrients Nutrients

9. Recent Research and Technology Advances Advances in animal vaccination to reduce pathogen levels Recent Studies on pathogen survival in soil and water – nutrient status Research on pathogen transport in soil - preferential transport Pathogens

10. Recent Research and Technology Advances Only recently viewed as being an important issue Some studies monitoring CH 4 & N 2 O emissions from livestock operations (manure storage/ handling) - develop emission coefficients for various practices Some studies monitoring ghg emissions following manure applications in field (liquid, solid/compost).. Including mineral fertilizers - C content in liquid manure affects N 2 O production Greenhouse Gases

11. Odour Odour problems persist in storage, handling & application using conventional liquid systems.. –Considerable progress with some practices… Injecting liquid manure (odour) continues to be a barrier for no-till operations Need to develop rapid, continuous in-barn separation and removal of solid and liquid manure fractions (odour & ghg impacts) (confined operations) Knowledge Gaps

12. Need better prediction of nutrient mineralization rates from manure sources –Timing of release to match crop requirements Continue to reduce P content of livestock manures through improved diet/feed efficiency Develop more precise manure application equipment for manure nutrients (esp. solid manures) Implement the P index nationally as part of nutrient management planning Nutrients

13. Knowledge Gaps Need to reduce pathogens levels in livestock – better understanding of shedding Improved manure treatment systems to kill pathogens Need better understanding of survivability below plow- layer in soil – practices to reduce leaching risks Review Research on uptake of pathogens by vegetables – implications for organic farming Pathogens

14. Knowledge Gaps Need to monitor and compare a range of manure handling/ storage systems for relative ghg losses (cost-benefit analysis) –Compare anaerobic digestion vs composting systems vs conventional systems.. Emission coefficients Require much better understanding of interactions between factors contributing to ghg production and losses for post-manure land application (include roles of mineral fertilizers) CGreat source variability; quite temporal & spatial CRole of carbon in nitrous oxide production Greenhouse Gases

15. Knowledge Gaps Need comprehensive, systematic framework for manure management decision making –Complex dynamic interactions between factors –Simple change in one factor may have several unintended impacts elsewhere in the system; economic or environmental –For researchers & farmers.. e.g. How to optimize practices to reduce ghg emissions - affordable System-wide

16. Knowledge Gaps Lack validation / verification for many manure treatment technologies that are available in the market place –Which technologies work well together – on-farm Need research on nutrient recycling / scavenging technologies for recovering nutrients from liquid manures (Europe) –Provide flexibility for nutrient utilization – optimize nutrient balance for end use  on-site, or off-site System-wide

17. Back to the Problem Conventional Liquid Manure Systems - #1 source of problems –Odour Many practices try to reduce existing odours Few current practices eliminate odour sources (compost) – Water Quality Increased risk of water contamination after application Large water volumes contribute to problem

18. Back to the Problem Excess Nutrients (all manure systems) –Nutrients Imported = Nutrients Exported Society (Rural Neighbours) –Concerned with health, food safety and water quality –Lacks confidence in current manure management practices

19. New Directions Trend - “Treat” manure before further use for: –On-farm land application … or –Off-farm, value-added products Why? –Reduce odours, pathogens, ghg losses –Reduce risks of excess nutrients in water –Restore public confidence in livestock operations

20. New Directions Closed Vessel Manure Treatment –Conserves nutrients (better N/P balance) –Confines odour during processing/conversion –Eliminates ghg losses during processing –Liquid – AD systems –Solid – in-vessel composting (reduce N losses) Remove manure from source to storage as quickly as feasible –Reduce ghg losses.. Maximize CH 4 capture –Reduce odour production

21. Features of Anaerobic Digestion Odour Greatly reduce odours – land application Ammonia emissions reduced Surface application of digested manure? –Suitable for No-till operations? Pathogens Can be greatly reduced or eliminated GHGs Minimal GHG losses during treatment

22. Features of Anaerobic Digestion Nutrients Closed vessel, nutrients conserved –Increased N content; better N:P ratio –pH control to reduce application losses –Nutrients more available for plant use Eco- Efficiency Methane captured - used for heating or for electricity production “Green power”; distributed generation Energy independence, revenue source (power generation being privatized)

23. Priority Research Areas 1.Develop manure management DSS  For researchers to understand dynamic interactions  For livestock producers to select optimum system 2.Integration of Greenhouse Gas emissions knowledge into existing practices  Impacts/adjustments to existing BMPs  Balancing economic & environmental impacts

24. Priority Research Areas 3.Manure Treatment Technologies  Compare AD vs Composting vs Conventional  Verify technologies – optimum combinations 4.Post-Treatment nutrient recovery/recycling  Flexibility to manage nutrients – on-farm/off-farm  Balance nutrients – value-added – linked to NMPs

25. Looking Ahead Need to manage manure for: –Nutrient value –Soil conditioning value –Energy content –Value-added products –Minimize negative environmental impacts Innovative partnerships for waste management –Other Ag (food processors, rendering, deadstock) –Municipal (residential wastes, sewage) –Industrial (energy producers, wood chips)