Abstract—Slurry crusts form on the slurry surface and act as a primary barrier to gaseous emissions and could also be a zone where CH₄ is consumed by methane-oxidising bacteria present. However, slurry crusts have also been reported as sources of nitrous oxide emissions. This study evaluated methane oxidation rate and nitrous oxide emissions from a 8 months developed slurry crust followed by 8 weeks application of a mixed microbial consortia (effective microorganism; EM^®). There was no clear evidence of CH₄ oxidation following EM^® application. Whilst there was no significant reduction of N₂O fluxes from EM^®-treated crusts, there was a tendency for lower N₂O emissions from EM^®-sprayed crusts. N₂O emissions were greater than CH₄ consumption, resulting in net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of between 13.8-46.7 mg CO₂ eq. g^-1 DM hr^-1. We conclude that it is important to consider net GHG emissions (CO₂ eq.) when reporting CH₄ oxidation from slurry crusts. 
 

Index Term—slurry crust, methane oxidation, nitrous oxide, effective microorganisms, GHG mitigation

Cite: Mohd Saufi B. Bastami, David R. Chadwick, and Davey L. Jones, "Do Effective Micro-Organisms Affect Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Slurry Crusts?," Journal of Advanced Agricultural Technologies, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 49-53, March 2016. Doi: 10.18178/joaat.3.1.49-53