Tackling a smelly topic: Masters student Yumeng Song has researched a way of reducing ammonia gas emissions from livestock waste.
Research by two Melbourne University students has found the application of lignite can result in significant reductions in the release of polluting gas caused by animal waste.
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Some of the research was carried out at the university’s Dookie campus.
Scientists have known that some of the nitrogen in animal feed is not utilised by the body and passes through the animal and into the urine and faeces.
When the two mix, ammonia gas is released, which contributes to a major source of air pollution.
Masters student Yumeng Song and PhD student Hassan Khamaki wanted to quantify the effectiveness of lignite (brown coal) on reducing ammonia gas emissions.
Study results indicated that lignite application can reduce dairy cattle manure ammonia gas emission by 77 per cent to 92 per cent compared to no lignite application.
Ammonia reacts with other pollutants which affect human breathing.
A study published in the journal Science recently, found ammonia emissions are a significant source of air pollution, and the societal benefits of abatement greatly outweigh the costs.
Applied science: PhD student Hassan Khamaki examined how the application of lignite could reduce gas emissions.
The students collected faeces and urine from dairy cattle, tested the nitrogen content and then mixed them.
Lignite was added in the laboratory.
Ms Song said up to 40 per cent of global ammonia gas emissions came from livestock industries and most of that from livestock manure.
“The gas emissions from cow manure are the major sources of air and water pollution and can lead to negative effects on both ecosystem and public health,” she said.
Many ammonia gas mitigation methods were recommended by previous studies, but none of them have been widely adopted by the livestock industries.
Ms Song said it was unclear if the additives to cattle manure may cause a negative effect on pasture growth and the existence of residues will affect cattle grazing.
The detail of how the lignite reacts with the ammonia was not discovered and would require more research, she said.
The use of lignite, which is a natural product, was an environmentally friendly way of reducing ammonia gas emissions.
It could be used in feedlots or dairy sheds where waste was concentrated but has not yet been widely adopted, Ms Song said.
The students acknowledged the support from their co-supervisors — Dr Mei Bai, Professor Deli Chen, Professor Richard Dewhurst and Professor Brian Leury.
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