Ammonia emission during pig slurry storage : laboratory and pit results

Few studies have been already achieved on ammonia volatilisation during slurry storage. The originality of this work is the comparison of data obtained in laboratory conditions with data measured on a slurry outside pit. First part of this study allows to measure the maximum ammonia volatilisation rate in relation with kind of slurry (slurry of sows, postweaning piglets and growing-finishing pigs). With this first part of the study, we show the influence of slurry composition in particular dry matter and ammoniacal nitrogen content. Slurry produced by growing-finishing pigs appears to be the one allowing the higher ammonia volatilisation rate. In a second part, measurements achieved on a outside pit with a floating chamber lead to lower ammonia volatilisation rate than those obtained in laboratory conditions or in literature.