Purpose of a slurry acidification system
The acidification of slurry is in agriculture – among others, according to the European Regional Development Fund – the most efficient and cost-efficient technology for reducing greenhouse gases and for nutrient recovery. The main advantage of the acidification of slurry in the stable is that the greenhouse gas emissions from the stable stage are immediately reduced.
Then also in the months of storage as well as during the spreading, further evaporation will be avoided and this thus has a sustainable and efficient emission-reducing effect on the entire emission chain of the nutrients.
Advantages of a slurry acidification system
- Achievement of a relevant ammonia emission reduction within the scope of a building permit procedure
- Receipt of specific investment aid for structural measures and facilities for the realization of ecological goals (contributions, especially for slurry acidification plants, available from 2021 and on)
- Could make the mandatory cover of open repositories1 superfluous
- Increasing fertilizer efficiency and lowering the acquisition costs of other fertilizers
- Reducing odors around farms
- Operation of a fully automated slurry management system (less work and more safety)
- Increase in operating income through CO2 compensation (sale of CO2 certificates)2
1: According to (OAPC) – as of January 2022 – it is mandatory to cover open slurry storage facilities throughout Switzerland.
2: This approach is under development, but is unfortunately not yet operationally available – on the Swiss market – today.
The investment aid for structural measures (cantonal investment loans) and facilities for the realization of ecological goals as well as for meeting the requirements of homeland and landscape protection (Federal Subsidies Ordinance FSO) create support throughout Switzerland of up to 75% of the total acquisition costs of such a slurry acidification plant. Gladly you are welcome – with the following simulation model – to carry out your operating calculation with regard to ammonia volatilization:
Sustainable development from which everyone involved
– in the form of an economic, ecological and social return – can benefit and grow. This is what we stand for!
For people, your livestock and our environment
Systems / construction types
The processing system in cattle stalls differs significantly from that in pig stalls. We therefore speak of a “canal system” in cattle farming and a “flush system” in pig farming.
In addition, a processing process for farms with mixed animal husbandry was specially developed for Switzerland, in which the said “canal system” and the said “flush system” are combined, but are always operated separately from one another.
In addition, a processing process for farms with mixed animal husbandry was specially developed for Switzerland, in which the said “canal system” and the said “flush system” are combined, but are always operated separately from one another.
How it works
The hydrolytic enzymes (i. e. urease) formed by bacteria in the feces begin to break down the urea molecules directly, depending on the pH value and weather conditions. This process is known as “hydrolysis”.
The urea contained in the urine is split into ammonia and carbon dioxide with the help of water and then evaporates in the atmosphere, where it becomes a harmful greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases are gases that absorb and emit radiation energy in the thermal infrared range and thus cause the greenhouse effect. This effect in turn is responsible for the temperature on the earth’s surface.
Ammonia emissions in detail
In summary, it can be stated that Switzerland ranks second behind the Netherlands in terms of proportional ammonia emissions and that around 60’000 tons of ammonia gases are produced in Switzerland every year. 92% of these come from Swiss agriculture.
The proportion of these ammonia emissions, which are generated exclusively in animal husbandry, is approx. 93% and that in plant cultivation approx. 7%. The emissions from animal husbandry are as follows: