UW-Platteville students to present research on reducing ammonia emissions and odors
Author: Kristie Reynolds
Three University of Wisconsin-Platteville students are looking at biochar as a way to reduce ammonia emissions and odors off of manure storages, which many farms in Wisconsin use.
According to the students’ research, manure storages are good for many environmental reasons, but are also a source of odor and greenhouse gas emissions. Jeffrey Smolinski, Zach Flitsch and Davin Dahl wanted to look at using biochar as a cover over the manure to reduce emissions. Biochar, which looks similar to charcoal, is a carbon-based material produced by heating biomass at high temperatures with limited oxygen.
Smolinski, a New London, Wisconsin, native, said the trio chose this topic based off of Dr. Joseph Sanford’s research focus at the time. Sanford, the group’s project mentor, is a Dairy Innovation Hub researcher focused on agricultural waste management who has many ongoing projects related to manure. The group stad the project in late August with greenhouse gas readings and continued through mid-January.