Optimizing Livestock By-Products Storage to Reduce Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Using Biochar and Wood Vinegar
2025
Alessandra Lagomarsino | Edoardo Verga | Massimo Valagussa | Stefano Rispoli | Filippo Rocchi | Claudia Becagli | Alberto Tosca
The environmental impact of livestock by-products presents significant challenges, particularly in regions with intensive farming and high pollution levels, such as the Po Valley. This study evaluated the effectiveness of biochar and wood vinegar in reducing gaseous emissions during the laboratory-scale storage of livestock slurry, digestate, and liquid fractions. Various types and applications of biochar, both with and without wood vinegar, were tested across three independent incubation periods of varying durations. The results showed that ammonia (NH3) emissions were lower from slurry compared to raw digestate and the liquid fraction, while methane (CH4) emissions exhibited the opposite trend. Pyrolysis biochar effectively reduced NH3 emissions by 47% on average when applied as a 5 cm surface layer. However, its effectiveness was inconsistent when mixed into the material or when produced via gasification. Biochar activated with wood vinegar significantly reduced NH3 emissions from both slurry and digestate by 61%, but it also led to increased emissions of CH4 and CO2. Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were detected only after at least one month of incubation and were higher when biochar was used as a cover alone or when activated with wood vinegar. Overall, applying biochar as a cover and activating it with wood vinegar proved effective in reducing NH3 emissions during the storage of livestock by-products. However, the effectiveness varied significantly depending on the type of biochar and its method of application, particularly with respect to CH4 emissions, highlighting the need for careful consideration when using wood vinegar-activated biochar.
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