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Related Experiment Videos

Methane oxidation in slurry storage surface crusts.

Søren O Petersen1, Barbara Amon, Andreas Gattinger

  • 1Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark. soren.o.petersen@agrisci.dk

Journal of Environmental Quality
|March 11, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Livestock manure storage crusts can oxidize methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas. This study shows that surface crusts in slurry storages facilitate CH4 removal, offering a cost-effective mitigation strategy.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Agricultural Science
  • Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Background:

  • Livestock manure, particularly in liquid slurry storage, is a major source of atmospheric methane (CH4).
  • Surface crusts can form naturally or be artificially established in slurry storages.
  • The potential for methane oxidation within these surface crust environments has not been fully explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential for methane (CH4) oxidation in livestock slurry surface crusts.
  • To assess the viability of methanotrophic activity under practical storage conditions.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of surface crusts as a greenhouse gas mitigation strategy.

Main Methods:

  • Surface crust materials were collected from experimental cattle slurry storages.

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  • Crust extracts and field-moist samples were incubated with methane (CH4) under controlled conditions.
  • Methane oxidation activity was measured, and the impact of drying and rewetting was assessed.

    • Main Results:

    • Methanotrophic activity, indicating CH4 oxidation, was demonstrated in all tested surface crust samples after a lag phase.
    • Methane oxidation rates ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 mg kg(-1) organic matter (OM) h(-1), comparable to wetlands.
    • Partial drying of crusts significantly increased CH4 oxidation rates (0.2 to 1.4 mg kg(-1) OM h(-1)).

    Conclusions:

    • Direct evidence confirms methanotrophic activity in slurry storage surface crusts.
    • Ensuring surface crust formation is a promising, cost-effective method for mitigating methane emissions from livestock operations.
    • Optimizing crust conditions, such as partial drying, can enhance methane removal efficiency.