Changes in Gas Emissions of Beef Pen Surface Material Amended with Chicken Litter

Beef pen surface material (PSM) was amended with chicken litter (CL) to determine if mixed manures resulted in reduced emissions. Herein, PSM amended with chicken litter (PSM + CL) and untreated PSM was incubated at a constant temperature and moisture for 17 days while methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ammonia (NH3) emissions were measured every 48–72 h. Nutrient analysis on day 17 showed greater (p < 0.05) concentrations of organic N, ammonium, and total N in PSM + CL compared to PSM, with no differences in dry matter, C:N ratio, nitrate N, or organic matter. There was no difference in sample pH. A day*treatment effect (p ≤ 0.02) was observed for CH4, NH3, and N2O emissions. No difference was observed in cumulative emissions of CH4 and NH3 between treatments, whereas emission of N2O was less in PSM compared to PSM + CL (p < 0.001). Results from the study showed that amending PSM with CL did not change cumulative emissions of NH3 and CH4, but it did significantly increase cumulative emissions of N2O while also changing the emission profile over time. It was concluded that observed changes may be due to enhanced nitrogen transformation processes in the surface material that was amended with CL.