Slurry acidification influences the nutrients dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions
ESR-9 Yusra Zireeni
Acidification of livestock’s slurry with sulphuric acid (H2SO4) is a widely used practice in the UK and Europe. This acidification aims to enhance the fertiliser value of the recycled bio-waste, by reducing the emission of ammonia and enhancing the solubility of phosphorous. Sulphuric acid is a strong acid that involves in it the protons (H+) and the sulphate (SO4), thus when it’s used for acidification, the soil-plant system is subjected to high amounts of sulphate which less is known about its fate and effect on the nutrients dynamics in the soil and on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For better understanding of the influence of slurry acidification on the N and P dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions, an incubation experiment that focuses the separate and combined effects of sulphuric acid was established at the laboratory, where soil extractions and gas samplings were undertaken periodically. The soil nutrients availability was analysed, likewise the fluxes of N2O, CH4 and CO2. The correlation between the data will enable us to learn about the contribution of SO4 separately and together with protons in the soil system.
