Cumulative Methane Emissions in Dung of Different Herbivore Species

Grasslands cover about 40% of the Earth's surface, and in addition to forage production, they provide ecosystem services such as carbon storage and soil protection, so they are considered important sinks of greenhouse gases (GHG). Despite this, the dung from grazing animals deposited in the so...

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Main Authors: Beatriz Moretto, Francisco Paulo Amaral Júnior, Eduardo Affonso de Faria, Camila Eduarda Souza de Sousa, Vanessa Zirondi Longhini, Abmael da Silva Cardoso, Ana Cláudia Ruggieri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto de Zootecnia 2022-12-01
Series:Boletim de Indústria Animal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://35.198.24.243/index.php/bia/article/view/1842
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author Beatriz Moretto
Francisco Paulo Amaral Júnior
Eduardo Affonso de Faria
Camila Eduarda Souza de Sousa
Vanessa Zirondi Longhini
Abmael da Silva Cardoso
Ana Cláudia Ruggieri
author_facet Beatriz Moretto
Francisco Paulo Amaral Júnior
Eduardo Affonso de Faria
Camila Eduarda Souza de Sousa
Vanessa Zirondi Longhini
Abmael da Silva Cardoso
Ana Cláudia Ruggieri
author_sort Beatriz Moretto
collection DOAJ
description Grasslands cover about 40% of the Earth's surface, and in addition to forage production, they provide ecosystem services such as carbon storage and soil protection, so they are considered important sinks of greenhouse gases (GHG). Despite this, the dung from grazing animals deposited in the soil, usually unevenly distributed in relatively small areas, can provide favorable conditions for methane (CH4) emissions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accumulated methane emissions in the dung of different species of herbivores (sheep, goats, beef cattle, dairy cattle, and horses). Incubation was carried out in a greenhouse. Soil collection was carried out in an area of Palisade grass planted more than 10 years ago. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with five treatments and five replications. The treatments used were dung from sheep, goats, beef cattle, dairy cattle, and horses. The amounts added per treatment were 400 g of soil and 100 g of fresh dung. The soil was maintained at a constant temperature and 18% volumetric moisture throughout the experimental period. The remaining vials were kept in the incubator at a constant temperature of 25.0 ± 1.0 °C and 80% relative humidity during the test period. After applying the treatments, samples were collected daily during the first week. From the 8th day after application (DAA) onward, sampling was performed three times a week until 30 DAA, and weekly until 100 days of evaluation. Sampling was performed after closing the chambers (T0) and after 30 minutes (T30). A difference was found between the accumulated emissions of CH4 from the evaluated dung. The highest emissions were released by dairy cattle manure, followed by beef cattle (p<0.001). The dung of goats, sheep, and horses showed the lowest accumulated emissions of CH4, not differing from each other. The cumulative emissions found in the present study corroborate the findings reported by several studies, that the manure of dairy cows is responsible for more significant CH4 emissions compared to beef cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. The authors indicated that fecal moisture has a high influence on CH4 emissions. The high moisture content observed in dairy cattle manure may have hindered oxygen infiltration, favoring a longer period of anaerobic conditions and CH4 emission, unlike what was observed for small ruminant manure, where low humidity may have limited the process. of methanogenesis. Although the equine dung presented high humidity, low cumulative methane emissions were observed. Franz et al. (2010) and Elghandour et al. (2019) reported that horses have intestinal structures and microbial communities in contrast to ruminants, with smaller communities of protozoa and archaea, explaining the lower emission of CH4 by the dung of these animals. Thus, factors inherent to each animal influence GHG emissions through dung.
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spelling doaj.art-df3bcc4a97804d5e816180d51c633b5a2023-08-08T23:39:09ZengInstituto de ZootecniaBoletim de Indústria Animal1981-41002022-12-0179Cumulative Methane Emissions in Dung of Different Herbivore SpeciesBeatriz MorettoFrancisco Paulo Amaral JúniorEduardo Affonso de FariaCamila Eduarda Souza de SousaVanessa Zirondi LonghiniAbmael da Silva CardosoAna Cláudia Ruggieri Grasslands cover about 40% of the Earth's surface, and in addition to forage production, they provide ecosystem services such as carbon storage and soil protection, so they are considered important sinks of greenhouse gases (GHG). Despite this, the dung from grazing animals deposited in the soil, usually unevenly distributed in relatively small areas, can provide favorable conditions for methane (CH4) emissions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accumulated methane emissions in the dung of different species of herbivores (sheep, goats, beef cattle, dairy cattle, and horses). Incubation was carried out in a greenhouse. Soil collection was carried out in an area of Palisade grass planted more than 10 years ago. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with five treatments and five replications. The treatments used were dung from sheep, goats, beef cattle, dairy cattle, and horses. The amounts added per treatment were 400 g of soil and 100 g of fresh dung. The soil was maintained at a constant temperature and 18% volumetric moisture throughout the experimental period. The remaining vials were kept in the incubator at a constant temperature of 25.0 ± 1.0 °C and 80% relative humidity during the test period. After applying the treatments, samples were collected daily during the first week. From the 8th day after application (DAA) onward, sampling was performed three times a week until 30 DAA, and weekly until 100 days of evaluation. Sampling was performed after closing the chambers (T0) and after 30 minutes (T30). A difference was found between the accumulated emissions of CH4 from the evaluated dung. The highest emissions were released by dairy cattle manure, followed by beef cattle (p<0.001). The dung of goats, sheep, and horses showed the lowest accumulated emissions of CH4, not differing from each other. The cumulative emissions found in the present study corroborate the findings reported by several studies, that the manure of dairy cows is responsible for more significant CH4 emissions compared to beef cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. The authors indicated that fecal moisture has a high influence on CH4 emissions. The high moisture content observed in dairy cattle manure may have hindered oxygen infiltration, favoring a longer period of anaerobic conditions and CH4 emission, unlike what was observed for small ruminant manure, where low humidity may have limited the process. of methanogenesis. Although the equine dung presented high humidity, low cumulative methane emissions were observed. Franz et al. (2010) and Elghandour et al. (2019) reported that horses have intestinal structures and microbial communities in contrast to ruminants, with smaller communities of protozoa and archaea, explaining the lower emission of CH4 by the dung of these animals. Thus, factors inherent to each animal influence GHG emissions through dung. https://35.198.24.243/index.php/bia/article/view/1842Dunggreenhouse gasherbivoresmethane
spellingShingle Beatriz Moretto
Francisco Paulo Amaral Júnior
Eduardo Affonso de Faria
Camila Eduarda Souza de Sousa
Vanessa Zirondi Longhini
Abmael da Silva Cardoso
Ana Cláudia Ruggieri
Cumulative Methane Emissions in Dung of Different Herbivore Species
Boletim de Indústria Animal
Dung
greenhouse gas
herbivores
methane
title Cumulative Methane Emissions in Dung of Different Herbivore Species
title_full Cumulative Methane Emissions in Dung of Different Herbivore Species
title_fullStr Cumulative Methane Emissions in Dung of Different Herbivore Species
title_full_unstemmed Cumulative Methane Emissions in Dung of Different Herbivore Species
title_short Cumulative Methane Emissions in Dung of Different Herbivore Species
title_sort cumulative methane emissions in dung of different herbivore species
topic Dung
greenhouse gas
herbivores
methane
url https://35.198.24.243/index.php/bia/article/view/1842
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AT camilaeduardasouzadesousa cumulativemethaneemissionsindungofdifferentherbivorespecies
AT vanessazirondilonghini cumulativemethaneemissionsindungofdifferentherbivorespecies
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