Mitigation of methane emissions during manure storage

Different materials for covering liquid manure storage facilities to reduce gaseous emissions were investigated on 65 l laboratory scale: perlite (Pegülit™), lightweight expanded clay aggregate (Leca™) and chopped straw – both individually and combined with lactic acid or saccharose, respectively. Methane is the predominant greenhouse gas emitted from liquid manure storage facilities. Common cover materials aim at the reduction of odour and ammonia emissions. But using them can increase greenhouse gas emissions. Especially straw can increase methane emissions. Lowering the pH of the slurry can reduce methane emissions. Covering and acidification were only effective in reducing methane emissions, when the pH was reduced below 6.0.