Effect of horseradish, mushroom waste and almond hull on the concentrations of odorous compounds in swine manure for spreading on grassland in spring

The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of odor reducing agents on the levels of pH, total carbon, total nitrogen, and odorous compounds [phenols, indoles, short chain fatty acid (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA), and ammonium nitrogen] of swine manure during the spring season (temperature around $20^{\circ}C$). Odor reducing agents included horseradish powder, mushroom waste powder, and almond hull powder. A manure sample (15 L) was taken from the pit under the pens of a swine feeding operation and incubated with 0.03% horseradish powder, 1% mushroom waste powder, and 1% almond hull powder, respectively, in acryl chambers for 14 days. Addition of almond hull powder showed the lowest pH (p < 0.05) and the highest level of total carbon (p < 0.05) among treatments of odor reducing agents. Although addition of odor reducing agents increased the level of phenols (p < 0.05), addition of almond hull powder decreased the level of indoles (p < 0.05). Levels of SCFA and BCFA were higher in almond hull powder than those in control (p < 0.05). Taken together, the results from our current study showed that odor reducing agents can be used for reducing the odor of swine manure by providing fermentable carbohydrates. At $20^{\circ}C$, however, the function of odor reducing agents might be decreased due to lower microbial activity.