Optimising storage conditions and processing of sheep urine for nitrogen cycle and gaseous emission measurements from urine patches

Alice F Charteris; Karina A Marsden; Jess R Evans; Harry A Barrat; Nadine Loick; Davey L Jones; David R Chadwick; Laura M Cárdenas

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-91498-4

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Optimising storage conditions and processing of sheep urine for nitrogen cycle and gaseous emission measurements from urine patches

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Optimising storage conditions and processing of sheep urine for nitrogen cycle and gaseous emission measurements from urine patches

Alice F Charteris, Karina A Marsden, Jess R Evans, Harry A Barrat, Nadine Loick, Davey L Jones, David R Chadwick and Laura M Cárdenas

Scientific reports, Vol.11(1), 12116

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91498-4

PMID: 34108538

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Abstract

Animals

Freeze Drying - methods

Freeze Drying - standards

Nitrogen - urine

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrous Oxide - urine

Sheep

Specimen Handling - methods

Specimen Handling - standards

In grazing systems, urine patches deposited by livestock are hotspots of nutrient cycling and the most important source of nitrous oxide (N O) emissions. Studies of the effects of urine deposition, including, for example, the determination of country-specific N O emission factors, require natural urine for use in experiments and face challenges obtaining urine of the same composition, but of differing concentrations. Yet, few studies have explored the importance of storage conditions and processing of ruminant urine for use in subsequent gaseous emission experiments. We conducted three experiments with sheep urine to determine optimal storage conditions and whether partial freeze-drying could be used to concentrate the urine, while maintaining the constituent profile and the subsequent urine-derived gaseous emission response once applied to soil. We concluded that filtering of urine prior to storage, and storage at - 20 °C best maintains the nitrogen-containing constituent profile of sheep urine samples. In addition, based on the 14 urine chemical components determined in this study, partial lyophilisation of sheep urine to a concentrate represents a suitable approach to maintain the constituent profile at a higher overall concentration and does not alter sheep urine-derived soil gaseous emissions.

Details

Title: Optimising storage conditions and processing of sheep urine for nitrogen cycle and gaseous emission measurements from urine patches
Authors/Creators: Alice F Charteris - Rothamsted Research
Karina A Marsden - Bangor University
Jess R Evans - Rothamsted Research
Harry A Barrat - Rothamsted Research
Nadine Loick - Rothamsted Research
Davey L Jones - SoilsWest, UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
David R Chadwick - Bangor University
Laura M Cárdenas - Rothamsted Research
Publication Details: Scientific reports, Vol.11(1), 12116
Publisher: Springer Nature
Grant note: BBS/E/C/000I0320 / Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BBS/E/C/000I0330 / Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Identifiers: 991005560421707891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Source: InCites

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.45 Soil Science; 3.45.397 Nitrogen Management
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas: Environment/Ecology