Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.

If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options.

Abstract. Manure spreading on agricultural land might emit large quantities of airborne contaminants such as dust, gases, odours and bioaerosols (e.g. aerosolized human and animal pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria), affecting the health of workers, animals and surrounding communities. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare fugitive emissions (gases, odour, dust and bioaerosols) from the spreading of three types of manure using different techniques. Spreading tests were done in six replicates in a greenhouse adapted as a full-scale wind tunnel. A spreader with horizontal beater was used for solid cow manure and poultry manure. Two devices were used for pig slurry spreading: a splash plate and a dribble bar. For all types of manure and spreading techniques, CO, N₂O and H₂S concentrations increase was negligible. Generally, CO₂ and CH₄ concentrations increased right after spreading and were back to the initial level after approximately five minutes. For both gases, emissions were higher after pig slurry than solid manure spreading, independently of the spreading technique. NH₃ was released more progressively, up to six hours after spreading, which was attributed to nitrogen volatilization. NH₃ emission reached higher levels with poultry manure and was similar for both methods of pig slurry spreading. Odour intensity during spreading reached the highest concentration for splash plate slurry spreading, following by dribble bar slurry spreading, poultry manure and cow manure spreading. With both solid and liquid manure, the concentration of total bacteria as well as the average total dust increased with the start of the spreading, before decreasing rapidly as spreading ended. Results from this study will help to identify critical factors that could influence airborne contaminant emissions during manure spreading.