Microorganisms in stored liquid dairy manure

Reduction or complete removal of residual slurry of stored liquid dairy manure prior to new storage can reduce methane emissions. This effect has been presumed to be caused by changes in the methanogen community, however, studies have not yet been conducted to directly confirm this. Using pilot-scale storage tanks where slurry was added once (batch-filled) or in three steps (day1, 20, 40) (gradually-filled), this study aimed to assess the effects of residual slurry levels (0%, 10%, and 20%) on structure of methanogenic archaea and bacteria in stored dairy slurries.