Considerable amounts of N can be lost from manure through NH$ sb3$ volatilization. Four laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of organic amendments on reducing NH$ sb3$ loss from liquid hog manure (LHM). The organic amendments used in these studies were sugar, sawdust and paper products including filter paper (FP), paper bag (PB), newsprint (NP) and pulp sludge (PS). Generally, organic amendments had significant effects on reducing NH$ sb3$ loss from LHM and their effectiveness increased with increasing addition rates. Sugar addition of 3% or higher could eliminate the NH$ sb3$ loss, depending on LHM properties and incubation conditions. The effectiveness of sugar, especially lower rates, decrease with time. The unrecovered NH$ sb4$ loss increased and manure pH decreased with the increase in sugar rates, indicating that the reduction in NH$ sb3$ loss due to sugar addition may have been caused by N immobilization and pH reduction. Sawdust addition reduced the NH$ sb3$ loss by as much as 20% compared to the control. The mixture of 5.5% sugar and 5% sawdust was more effective in reducing NH$ sb3$ loss than 5.5% sugar alone but, lower sugar rates were not similarly affected by sawdust addition. Addition of 5% FP, PB, NP and PS resulted in the decrease in NH$ sb3$ loss by as much as 40, 47, 37 and 29% in comparison to the non-amended manure. The unrecovered NH$ sb4 sp+$ loss and the loss of added C increased with increasing C addition, indicating that N immobilization may be the cause of the decrease in NH$ sb3$ due to paper product additions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Ammonia (NH$ sb3$) volatilization from manure can represent a major process through which nitrogen (N) is lost from the soil-plant-animal system. Reductions in NH$ sb3$ volatilization have significance both in economic and ecological aspects. Calcium lignosulphonate (CaLS), an acidic, water-soluble organic waste product of the pulp and paper industry, is expected to reduce NH$ sb3$ volatilization from liquid hog (Sus scrofa dometicus) manure (LHM) and consequently increase fertilizer value of LHM. Reduction of NH$ sb3$ loss from LHM was studied using added CaLS at 0, 6% 12% and 18% CaLS (based on fresh LHM weight) during 21 d incubation. Cumulative losses of NH$ sb3$-N ranged between 0 to 46% of initial total N. Compared to untreated LHM, the 6% CaLS treatment control N loss for 7 d and promoted N loss thereafter, while 12% and 18% CaLS treatments effectively reduced N losses throughout the 21 d incubation period. The N availability and the effect of CaLS-LHM mixtures on ryegrass (Lolium multiform Lamb.) growth were assessed on two soils mapped as St. Amable (sandy loam) and Ste. Rosalie (clay loam) from eastern Canada. Calcium lignosulphonate showed adverse effect on ryegrass plant growth, while as an amendment it did not reduce the effectiveness of LHM-N for ryegrass dry matter yield (DMY) and chemical composition at application rate up to 12% of LHM for the sandy loam soil and 18% of LHM for the clay loam soil. These findings suggested that CaLS may be used as an amendment for controlling N losses from animal manures.

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A race track type oxidation ditch with a disc aerator was constructed on a model scale. Tests were conducted in deionized water to study the effect of some disc design parameters and system operating parameters on the oxygen transfer rate was affected by the disc speed, disc thickness, hole diameter, immersion depth and number of discs operated in parallel. / The effect of the manure concentration on the microbial growth was investigated in a batch culture operation. High manure concentration had an inhibitory effect on the microbial growth. / Data from batch culture operation were used to design a continuous culture operation. The latter was used to evaluate the concept of minimal aeration of swine manure for odor control. The effluent quality (as measured by odor level and the concentrations of COD, nitrogenous componds and solids) was dependent on the initial manure concentration and on the retention time. The effluent from the ditch was free of offensive odor and can be spread on land without causing odor pollution problem.

A roof over a manure reservoir eliminates the entry of precipitations, reduces odour and volatile gas emissions, lowers the storage and handling costs and alleviates environmental impacts. / Structural analysis and testing were carried out to establish the feasibility of geodesic domes as manure reservoir roofting. A stress analysis, conducted by computer was used to determine maximum compression loads on roof members. Compression tests were carried out in the laboratory to test two laminated designs and to evaluate the performance of a member joint. / Structural analysis showed that the Lamella type dome, with a diameter/height ratio of 4, offers the best geometry considering design criteria for manure roofs. Compression tests confirmed that laminated members, made of 38 x 89 mm and 38 x 140 mm pieces, can resist the design stress developed in a 22 meter diameter dome. / Loading tests revealed that non laminated wood members failed at 80% of the design load. However, the joints (formed by two 3,1 mm thick steel plates bolted to the members) were still able to resist an increase in loading. / Data obtained from the tests were used for a preliminary design of a geodesic roof taking into account specific conditions such as humidity and manure gas. However further study is required to adapt this concept to real conditions over a manure reservoir. / The cost of a 22 meter diameter dome, for covering manure reservoirs, is estimated at 79$/m$ sp2$ which is more expensive than the cost of the currently used, least expensive manure pit roof (wood truss design).

Incubation mixtures of liquid hog manure (LHM), with and without monocalcium phosphate (MCP) were added to an Ormstown silty clay loam and a Ste. Rosalie clay. Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was cultivated in a pot study in order to determine yield, total P uptake and soil P content as affected by various P and manure treatments. / Aeration of LHM with MCP was successful in reducing ammonia volatilization by 62.4%. However, for both soils, neither of the treatments; LHM amended and aerated with MCP and applied at 32 t ha$ sp{-1}$ LHM containing 513 kg $ rm P sb2O sb5 ha sp{-1}$ from MCP nor LHM aerated without MCP applied at 32 t ha$ sp{-1}$ LHM, plus 513 kg $ rm P sb2O sb5 ha sp{-1}$ from MCP, significantly affected ryegrass yields compared to the lone addition of MCP fertilizer (513 kg $ rm P sb2O sb5 ha sp{-1}).$ Total P uptake in ryegrass was significantly higher for the incubated treatments in the Ste. Rosalie soil alone. / Although additions of LHM or MCP and LHM-MCP combinations affected Mehlich-III and Hedley P fractions, the incubation of MCP with LHM did not significantly increase either inorganic- or organic-P fractions when compared to MCP alone. Therefore, premixing MCP with the LHM had no effect on improving P availability in either the Ormstown or Ste. Rosalie soils.

Two underground concrete manure reservoirs of 70 m$ sp3$ were tested for their infiltration rate to water as well as to 1% and 3% total solid dairy manure. Positive and negative infiltration were measured for the water test while only negative infiltration was measured with the manure. / Positive infiltration is met when the water table into the soil is above the liquid level into the reservoir. In that case, the water is moving from the outside to the inside of the reservoir. An opposite situation is met when the infiltration is negative. / From the results, the infiltration rate varied from 0.00 to 6.684 $ times$ 10$ sp{-7}$ m/s. The minimum value was recorded at the reservoir 55 with 1% of total solid manure and the maximum value was recorded with same reservoir with positive pressure to water.

Liquid hog manure (LHM) obtained from the Macdonald College farm was used in experiments aimed at (a) reducing the odor associated with LHM during handling and (b) conserving the fertilizer capacity of LHM. Various chemical treatments and sphagnum moss (SM) were evaluated to achieve the above objectives. Direct acidification to $<$ pH 5.0, sphagnum moss (SM) and its combination with aluminum sulfate (AS) resulted in significant (p $<$ 0.05) reduction in ammonia losses during storage of LHM. The SM and SM/AS combination also significantly (p $<$ 0.05) reduced both odor presence and offensiveness. Gas chromatographic (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis indicated the absence of certain malodor compounds and lower peak areas of certain compounds in the SM and SM/AS treatments when compared to the controls. Investigations with barley seeding revealed that treatments which reduced the malodor of the LHM did not significantly (p $<$ 0.05) affect the nitrogen fertilization capacity of the LHM, as indicated by plant dry matter yield.