Effects of Peat Moss on Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide Reduction in Swine Manure Compost

This study investigated the effects of peat moss application on reducing ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions from swine manure compost. Peat moss, characterized by low pH and high humic substance content, has the potential to mitigate odor emissions derived from livestock manure. The experiment was conducted at a mechanical composting facility within a swine farm housing approximately 2,500 pigs in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and odor intensity levels were compared before and after peat moss application. Treatments were categorized by compost discharge timing (1, 3, 5, and 7 days), and sampling was performed four times at seven-day intervals from the same location within the pile. Gas samples were collected using a flux chamber within six hours of compost collection, and concentrations of NH3, H2S, and odor intensity were measured using detector tubes and gas sensors. Hydrogen sulfide was not detected before or after treatment. However, ammonia concentrations decreased significantly following peat moss application, as indicated by both detector tube (p = 0.021) and gas sensor (p = 0.003) results. These findings demonstrate that peat moss application effectively reduces ammonia emissions from swine manure compost, supporting its efficacy as an odor mitigation agent in livestock composting processes.