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Request for Modification of Nitrogen Coefficients with Aerway Applicators
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SUBJECT: Request for Modification of Nitrogen Coefficients with Aerway Applicators
TO: Carroll Pierce, Chair, 1217 Committee
FROM: Lane Price, USDA-NRCS (on behalf of the INMC)
Background: Use of the Aerway applicator to apply lagoon effluent is being promoted as a
technology that can reduce odor and increase application efficiency (less labor and time)
compared with waste application through high pressure gun type sprinkler systems. There is a
potential that Aerway applications will result in reduced NH3 volatilization losses. The 1217
Committee requested that the NC Interagency Nutrient Management Committee evaluate the
potential for modifying nitrogen coefficients used in determining nutrient application rates for
nutrient management plans.
Response: On May 14, 2004, staff from the NCSU Departments of Soils and Biological and
Agricultural Engineering, NRCS, DENR-DWQ, DENR-DSWQ, NCDA&CS, and several private
sector consultants attended a demonstration of this technology in Duplin County. Based on
observations during this demonstration, as well as a formal discussion at the INMC meeting on
July 30, the INMC provides the following response:
1. It is the opinion of the INMC that surface effluent application with the Aerway system
likely reduces NH3 volatilization losses, in comparison to gun type sprinklers that exhibit
volatilization of NH3-N in the range of 30 to 50%.
2. Some of the applied effluent will flow into the spike tooth depressions in the soil surface,
which could subsequently increase NH4+ adsorption and further reduce potential
volatilzation loss. The extent of adsorption reactions would likely be minimal in coarse
textured soils. In the recent field demonstration, it appeared that less than 5 to 10 % of
the effluent moved into these depressions; therefore, the effect on reducing volatidue to increased adsorption would probably be small.
SUBJECT: Request for Modification of Nitrogen Coefficients with Aerway Applicators
TO: Carroll Pierce, Chair, 1217 Committee
FROM: Lane Price, USDA-NRCS (on behalf of the INMC)
Background: Use of the Aerway applicator to apply lagoon effluent is being promoted as a
technology that can reduce odor and increase application efficiency (less labor and time)
compared with waste application through high pressure gun type sprinkler systems. There is a
potential that Aerway applications will result in reduced NH3 volatilization losses. The 1217
Committee requested that the NC Interagency Nutrient Management Committee evaluate the
potential for modifying nitrogen coefficients used in determining nutrient application rates for
nutrient management plans.
Response: On May 14, 2004, staff from the NCSU Departments of Soils and Biological and
Agricultural Engineering, NRCS, DENR-DWQ, DENR-DSWQ, NCDA&CS, and several private
sector consultants attended a demonstration of this technology in Duplin County. Based on
observations during this demonstration, as well as a formal discussion at the INMC meeting on
July 30, the INMC provides the following response:
1. It is the opinion of the INMC that surface effluent application with the Aerway system
likely reduces NH3 volatilization losses, in comparison to gun type sprinklers that exhibit
volatilization of NH3-N in the range of 30 to 50%.
2. Some of the applied effluent will flow into the spike tooth depressions in the soil surface,
which could subsequently increase NH4+ adsorption and further reduce potential
volatilzation loss. The extent of adsorption reactions would likely be minimal in coarse
textured soils. In the recent field demonstration, it appeared that less than 5 to 10 % of
the effluent moved into these depressions; therefore, the effect on reducing volatidue to increased adsorption would probably be small.
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