Inhibition of ammonia production in manure enhances air quality, human and ecosystem health, and conserves nitrogen (N) and therefore the fertilizer value of manure for crop production. The use of a mixture of tannins from quebracho (condensed) and chestnut (hydrolyzable) trees have been shown to reduce ammonia production in dairy manure during simulated barn floor experiments. In a quest to determine the types of tannin structures responsible for this ammonia abatement activity, we examined a series of commercially available flavanoid monomers and hydrolyzable tannins for urease inhibition and ammonia abatement activity. In vitro IC50 determinations of these compounds against Jack bean urease showed urease inhibitory activity follows epigallocatechin gallate > tannic acid >quercitin>pentagalloglucose>catechin. In ammonia emissions chambers, epigallocatechin gallate, at 0.28 and 0.56% of manure wet weight, resulted in 50% and 76% reduction of ammonia emissions, respectively, from dairy manure over a 48 h period.

Impacts of flavanoid monomers and simple hydrolyzable tannins on ammonia emissions from dairy manure

245th National Meeting (2013)

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