Slurry and ammonia

Biological management of livestock manure effluents

Turning a biological flow into environmental and agronomic value

In modern livestock systems, manure represents a junction between agricultural production, the environment, air quality, and nutrient efficiency.

SOP approaches manure management as a biological process to be governed, working on the microbiological dynamics that determine its stability, functionality, and environmental impact.

Manure as a biological system

Manure is the result of the interaction between:

  • Animal metabolism
  • Microbiology
  • Farm management
  • Environmental conditions

When this system is biologically stable:

  • Nitrogen is used more efficiently
  • Emissions are reduced
  • Operational management improves
  • Agronomic value increases

Ammonia: nitrogen efficiency and air quality

Ammonia represent:

A loss of useful nitrogen

A monitored environmental issue

An indicator of biological process inefficiency

Acting on ammonia means making the nitrogen cycle more efficient, improving:

Manure quality

Its fertilizing function

Overall environmental impact

Biohygienization and process stability

Through the Biohygienization processes, SOP helps to:

Support a healthier and more functional microbial balance

Control undesirable fermentations

Enhance manure consistency

Support more efficient manure management

Biohygienization is an action on the biological process that enhances what is already present in the system, without altering its agronomic function.

Discover SOP's biohygienization

Crusts, odors, and operational management

Crusts, foams, and odors are signs of suboptimal biological dynamics.
When the system is more stable:

  • crust formation tends to decrease

  • the manure becomes more homogeneous

  • tank management becomes smoother

  • odor impact is reduced

From manure to field: agronomic value

A biologically managed slurry:

  • Improves nitrogen efficiency
  • Promotes a more uniform distribution
  • Supports soil microbial activity

Digestate and post-biogas stage

Anaerobic digestion represents a crucial phase for the energetic valorization of carbon.
After the biodigester, the digestate is a highly biologically reactive resource, with:
  • more available nitrogen
  • high agronomic potential
  • the need for careful biological management
At this stage, process stabilization is essential to:
  • improve nitrogen efficiency
  • reduce losses through volatilization
  • maximize the value of digestate in the fields
SOP LAGOON acts precisely at this stage, promoting biological balance and process continuity.
Discover here SOP Lagoon

Ammonia and methane: two distinct cycles

  • Ammonia → nitrogen cycle, air quality, fertility

  • Methane→ carbon cycle, anaerobic fermentations, climate

SOP addresses these cycles with dedicated and complementary strategies, maintaining a systemic approach to manure management.

Learn more about methane here

Institutional alignment and sustainability

The biological management of manure proposed by SOP is aligned with:

  • emission reduction policies

  • circular economy strategies

  • ESG criteria in agri-food supply chains

  • air and soil quality objectives

Science and research

The SOP approach to manure management is supported by:

  • Field trials
  • Collaborations with universities and research centers
  • Peer-reviewed scientific publications

The available evidence concerns biological processes and observed outcomes, supporting more efficient and sustainable manure management. Odor reduction is one of the observable effects of a biologically more stable and functional manure.

Frequent questions about manure, digestate, emissions

What does biological manure management mean according to SOP?
For SOP, biological manure management means considering slurry and digestate as active biological systems. By managing microbiological dynamics, SOP works to improve stability, agronomic quality and emission control, transforming manure into a resource that is functional to the farm system.
Learn more: Slurry and ammonia
How does SOP contribute to reducing ammonia emissions in livestock farming?
SOP addresses ammonia reduction by improving the efficiency of the nitrogen cycle. It acts on the biological conditions of the manure system and the livestock environment, promoting more stable processes that reduce losses and improve nutrient utilization.
Learn more: Slurry and ammonia
Does biogas completely solve the emission problem?
According to SOP, anaerobic digestion represents an important phase of energy valorization. After the biodigester, biological management of digestate becomes crucial to complete the process, reduce residual emissions and improve integration with crop production.
Learn more: Digestate and post biogas
How does SOP contribute to emission reduction targets?
SSOP acts on the biological processes that influence ammonia, methane and other gas emissions. Improving system efficiency makes it possible to reduce losses and increase the functional use of resources.
Learn more: Livestock manure
How does SOP contribute to reducing manure odors?
SOP addresses manure odor issues by acting on the biological processes that regulate fermentations within the manure system. When manure is biologically unbalanced, undesired fermentations increase, generating odorous compounds. Through biological manure management, SOP works to stabilize the system, reducing odor production while simultaneously improving the agronomic quality of the manure.
Learn more: Slurry and ammonia