Loss of nitrogen and carbon during storage of the fibrous fraction of separated pig slurry and influence on nitrogen availability

Manure production in the most livestock-intensive areas exceeds the crop demand for nutrients and legislative restrictions on application rate cause a shortage of land for manure application. Export of nutrients in the fibrous fraction of separated animal slurry has become an option for sustaining or increasing livestock production in livestock-intensive areas. The nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) losses during on-farm storage of the fibrous fraction, originating from separation of anaerobically digested pig slurry using the non-volatile elements phosphorus (P), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) as internal references, were calculated. In addition, the plant availability of N in fresh and stored fibrous fractions was evaluated in an incubation experiment. The losses of N and C were greater from the heap surface than from the centre, and turning the heap by reloading for transport increased the losses. The proportion of ammonium N, total N and C lost during storage of the fibrous fraction was 0.30-0.90, 0.10-0.55 and 0.35-0.70 of the initial amount, respectively. Storage reduced the plant-available N and the amount of residual organic N, thereby having long-term influence on soil fertility. The plant-available N in fresh fibrous fractions was 0.22-0.52 of total N, but decreased to 0.15-0.38 after storage due to a decrease of the N(ammonium) : N(total) ratio during storage. The net mineralization of manure N was negatively related to the C(total) : N(organic) ratio. The fibrous fraction of separated pig slurry may be characterized as a manure with a high potential for loss and a variable value as fertilizer.