Options for Mitigating Manure Methane Emissions
Methane emissions from manure management contribute to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Systems with minimal air exposure, like anaerobic lagoons, produce more methane, while strategies such as composting, aeration, and storage modifications help reduce emissions. This fact sheet examines various mitigation methods and their tradeoffs in cost, efficiency, and environmental impact.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture supported the development of this fact sheet.
Key Scientific Literature:
Ambrose, H. W., Dalby, F. R., Feilberg, A., Kofoed, M. V. W. (2023). Additives and methods for the mitigation of methane emission from stored liquid manure. Biosystems Engineering, 229: 209-245.
El Mashad, H. M., Barzee, T. J., Franco, R. B., Zhang, R., Kaffka, S., Mitloehner, F. (2023). Anaerobic Digestion and Alternative Manure Management Technologies for Methane Emissions Mitigation on Californian Dairies. Atmosphere, 14:120.
EPA. (2024). Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2022 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 430R-24004.
Gerber, P. J., Hristov, A. N., Henderson, B., Makkar, H., Oh, J., Lee, C., Meinen, R., Montes, F., Ott, T., Firkins, J., Rotz, A., Dell, C., Adesogan, A. T., Yang, W. Z., Tricarico, J. M., Kebreab, E., Waghorn, G., Dijkstra, J., Oosting, S. (2013). Technical Options for the Mitigation of Direct Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Livestock: A Review. Animal, 7: 220–34.
Montes, F., Meinen, R., Dell, C., Rotz, A., Hristov, A. N., Oh, J., Waghorn, G., Gerber, P. J., Henderson, B., Makkar, H. P. S., Dijkstra, J. (2013). SPECIAL TOPICS — Mitigation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from animal operations: II. A review of manure management mitigation options. Journal of Animal Science, 91: 5070–5094.
Petersen, S. O., Blanchard, M., Chadwick, D., Del Prado, A., Edouard, N., Mosquera, J., & Sommer, S. G. (2013). Manure Management for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation. animal, 7: 266–82. .