Review of published studies estimating the abatement efficacy of reduced-emission slurry spreading techniques

Abstract

The Gothenburg Protocol to reduce atmospheric pollution drawn up by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) limits national emissions of ammonia (NH3). To help meet this agreement, the EU has agreed a National Emissions Ceilings Directive (NECD), under which the UK target for NH 3 emission is a maximum of 297 × 103 t NH 3. By 2007, large pig and poultry units in the EU will be required to reduce NH3 emission in consequence of the EU Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (EEC 1996). Webb and Misselbrook (2004) estimated that c. 27 × 103 t NH3-N, c. 12% of UK NH3-N emissions from livestock production, arose following the application of slurries to land. Much effort has been directed toward reducing NH3 emission following slurry application, however, few studies of reduced-emission slurry spreading techniques have been carried out using field-scale equipment and few balanced comparisons have been made of more than one abatement technique. In consequence it was considered useful to review published data. © 2009 Springer Netherlands.