8. Manure Storage Identification

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Storages with Very Low Odour Potential
3. Storages with Low Odour Potential
4. Storages with Medium Odour Potential
5. Storages with High Odour Potential

8.1 Introduction

Manure is a valuable resource for plant growth, however, it must be carefully managed to protect neighbors and the environment. Several options for manure storage exist, and options continue to improve, expand and evolve. The Nutrient Management Act, 2002 establishes standards for the construction, siting and sizing of manure storages. Information on constructing manure storages is available in a number of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) fact sheets, some of which, have been suggested as reference materials in Section 12.0.

Solid manure usually has bedding material added so that it can be easily stacked in a pile; (solid manure is categorized at having either 18-30 % dry matter or 30% and above). Adding bedding material also helps keep the manure as dry as possible, therefore reducing odour. Under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002, solid manure is considered to have a dry matter content of at least 18%. Generally, manure with at least 30% dry matter content, is easier to pile and produces few odours; ease of storage reduces and odour increases when there is less than 30% dry matter content.

Liquid manure has a dry matter content of less than 18% and is typically stored under the barn or in tanks. Liquid manure storage tanks are sometimes left uncovered; odour can significantly be reduced with the use of a variety of different types of permanent covers.

Anaerobic digesters process liquid or solid manure, (potentially in conjunction with permitted co-substrate input tank materials) to produce digestate. Digestate has a significantly reduced pathogen level and odour than liquid or solid manure.

8.2 Storages with Very Low Odour Potential

 

V1 Storage Type, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Inside

Covered/Not Covered: Covered

Solid/Liquid: Solid

Typical Associated Livestock: Swine, Dairy Poultry, Beef, Sheep

Additional Features: Bedded Pack, usually with layers of straw or shavings

Figure 1. Interior of a swine barn with bedded pack manure.

 

V2 Storage Type, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Outside

Covered/Not Covered: Covered - Roof like structure that may take various forms

Solid/Liquid: Solid

Typical Associated Livestock: Chickens (layers), Dairy

Additional Features: Cover keeps off precipitation to prevent run off. Storage is typically located right beside barn and is filled by augers, conveyor belts or the manure is manually pushed into them. These storages continue to be common.

Figure 2. Interior of a solid outside roofed storage with slatted walls.

Figure 3. Profile shot of a covered solid storage.

 

V3 Storage Type, as referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Outside

Covered/Not Covered: No cover

Solid/Liquid: Solid > or = 30% dry matter (manure is dry enough that a flow path option can be used for runoff control, as in Nutrient Management Act, 2002). A flow path control is a permanently vegetated area (PVA) that separates the storage from sensitive environmental features.

Additional Features: Requires a lot of bedding to make it dry enough.

Figure 4. Outside, uncovered solid manure storage.

Figure 5. A satellite V3 manure storage (i.e. a manure storage that is on a property with no livestock facility).

 

V4 Storage Type, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Outside

Covered/Not Covered: Covered

Solid/Liquid: Solid 18% to < 30% dry matter, with a covered liquid runoff storage (manure not dry enough to soak up precipitation, so a liquid runoff storage is needed but has a permanent tight cover)

Typical Associated Livestock: Dairy

Additional Features: Milk house wash water generally is placed into the runoff storage as well. This type is not commonly built.

Figure 6. A V4 type storage with solid and liquid elements.

 

V5 Storage Type, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Inside

Covered/Not Covered: Covered (under barn)

Solid/Liquid: Liquid

Typical Associated Livestock: Swine, Dairy

Additional Features: Underneath slatted floor (i.e. manure is stored under animals in the barn, or in tanks found on one side of the barn

Figure 7. Liquid manure storage under the barn.

Figure 8. Construction of tanks for liquid manure under barn and slatted floor of barn.

 

V6 Storage Type, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Outside

Covered/Not Covered: Covered, permanent tight fitting lid (negative pressure tarp, concrete lid, inflatable dome cover, etc.)

Solid/Liquid: Liquid

Typical Associated Livestock: Swine, Dairy

Additional Features: Permanent covers that remain in place over time is the key feature for this storage type

Figure 9. In the background, tight fitting negative pressure tarp cover is visible for a liquid manure storage.

Figure 10. Raised cement base of storage. Lip of tightly sealed cover is visible.

 

V7 Storage Type, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Outside

Covered/Not Covered: Not covered

Solid/Liquid: Liquid

Typical Associated Livestock: Dairy, Swine

Additional Features: All manure has been treated through anaerobic digestion, or a similar process that reduces odour

Figure 11. Rear view of an anaerobic digester along with attached storage fore treated digestate.

Figure 12. Front view of inflated anaerobic digester, showing the inflated gas storage.

8.3 Storages with Low Odour Potential

 

L1 Storage Types, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Outside

Covered/Not Covered: Not covered

Solid/Liquid: Solid (18% to < 30% dry matter with uncovered liquid runoff storage)

Typical Associated Livestock: Dairy, Beef

Additional Features: Manure is not dry enough to soak up precipitation, so a liquid runoff storage is needed, but it is uncovered producing more odour than with a V4 storage. Milk house wash water also can be put in the runoff storage as well.

Figure 13. Solid storage in rear of image, in the foreground is the required liquid runoff storage.

 

L2 Storage Type, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Outdoors

Covered/Not Covered: Permanent floating tarps, foam panels etc.

Solid/Liquid: Liquid

Typical Associated Livestock: Swine

Additional Features: A permanent floating cover that remains in place over time is the key feature.

Figure 14. Round Liquid Storage with floating permanent cover.

8.4 Storages with Medium Odour Potential

 

M1 Storage Type, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Outside

Covered/Not Covered: Not covered

Solid/Liquid: Liquid

Typical Associated Livestock: Swine, Dairy

Additional Features: Straight or vertical walls reduce the catchment area for precipitation on the storage, unlike the sloped sides of the H1 - earthen manure storage. These storages are very common.

Figure 15. Aerial view of an in ground, uncovered, vertical wall liquid storage.

Figure 16. Front view of an above ground, uncovered, vertical wall liquid storage.

 

M2 Storage Type, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Outdoors

Covered/Not Covered: Covered (Roof)

Solid/Liquid: Liquid

Typical Associated Livestock: Dairy, Chickens (Layers)

Additional Features: Roof keeps out precipitation, but open sides allow wind to travel over manure and carry odours. These are not common manure storages.

Figure 17. Front view of a roofed liquid storage facility.

8.5 Storages with High Odour Potential

 

H1 Storage Type, as Referred to in Table 5 & 6

Inside Barn/Outside Barn: Outdoors

Covered/Not Covered: Not covered

Solid/Liquid: Liquid

Typical Associated Livestock: Swine, Dairy, Beef

Additional Features: Earthen manure storages are not earthen runoff storages associated with solid manure storages listed as L1 above. Earthen storages have sloped sides which have a greater catchment area for precipitation than the M1 type above. They are commonly constructed, but catch a lot of precipitation and have a larger surface area which increases odour production.

Figure 18. An earthen manure storage; note the sloped sides and no cover.

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