Applicability of the dynamic chamber-capture system (DCS) for estimating the flux of ammonia emission during liquid fertilizer spreading

Abstract

There is a continuing need for accurate estimates of ammonia emission during livestock liquid fertilizer spreading. The objective of this study was to evaluate and confirm the chamber-capture system for estimating the flux of ammonia from the liquid fertilizer. Using manufactured dynamic chamber-capture system (DCS), artificial liquid fertilizer (ALF), and livestock liquid fertilizer (LLF), the ammonia emission flux (mg M-2 h(-1)) and total accumulated ammonia emission (mg m(-2)) were estimated over time. DCS showed stable gas capture and quantization over a range of 300 to 2500 mg-N L-1 for total ammoniacal nitrogen. Ammonia emission flux directly emitted from the ALF and LLF solution was initially highest and rapidly decreased. When applied to granite weathered soil, both ALF and LLF stabilized faster, resulting in the lower emission flux and total amount. Through 7 days of long-term continuous monitoring, it has been confirmed that ammonia was emitted quickly and a lot in the early stages. These results indicate that DCS could be used for ammonia emission flux studies for identifying the mechanism of ammonia emission by interaction with various characteristics of liquid fertilizer and soil.