Ammonia emission from slurry applied to wheat stubble and rape in North Germany

SUMMARY In 1989 three experiments with up to three different treatments each were carried out in North Germany to determine the ammonia flux densities after the application of liquid slurry using the micrometeorological mass balance method. In Expts 1 and 2, pig slurry was applied with a conventional surface spreader to wheat stubble. The results demonstrated the influence of meteorological conditions and that of incorporation on the extent of ammonia volatilization. In comparison to warm and windy conditions, NH 3 losses decreased from 56% of the NH 4 -N applied to wheat stubble to 42% during a cool and rainy period. When slurry was incorporated immediately into the soil, ammonia losses were significantly reduced to 20 and 10%, respectively, of the applied NH 4 -N. The highest losses (67% NH 4 -N) were found when slurry was applied during warm weather on wheat stubble covered with chopped straw. Soil cultivation of the wheat stubble before the application of slurry diminished the ammonia emission from 42 to 28% of the NH 4 -N. In Expt 3, cattle slurry was applied to rape. It was found that compared with a conventional surface spreader the ammonia volatilization was reduced from 68 to 58% of the NH 4 -N when an alternative distribution system consisting of drag hoses was used for the application.