This study was conducted to assess the effect of acidification of pig slurry on nitrogen (N) mineralization and its environmental impacts during pig slurry fermentation. Different inorganic and organic acids were used to acidify pig slurry. Four treatments including non-acidified pig slurry (control), pig slurry acidified with sulfuric acid, lactic acid, and citric acid were allocated with three replications. The total N content in the acidified pig slurry was higher than non-acidified pig slurry after fermentation. Acidification tended to increase total N content in pig slurry. Ammonium N (NH4 +-N) released from pig slurry was obviously increased at 7 days after incubation, representing 61.4%, 36.8%, and 37.4% increase in the acidified pig slurry with sulfuric acid, lactic acid, and citric acid, respectively. Nitrate N (NO3 --N) in the acidified pig slurry with sulfuric acid was the highest throughout the experiment period, but non-significant effect of organic acid. A large portion of ammonia (NH3) emission occurred within 10 days, corresponding to more than 55% of total NH3 emission. Total cumulative NH3 emission during the experimental period was lower 91% (2.9 mg N kg-1), 78% (7.3 mg N kg-1), and 81% (6.2 mg N kg-1) in the acidified pig slurry with sulfuric acid, lactic acid, and citric acid, respectively, than non-acidified pig slurry (32.7 mg N kg-1). These results suggest that acidification of pig slurry (particularly with sulfuric acid) can be faced as a good strategy to reduce NH3 emission without depressing the mineralization process.

This study was carried out to evaluate nitrogen availability of applied fertilizer and to investigate yield and growth of Chinese cabbage as affected by amount of fertilizer and soil fertility in organic farming applied various fertilizers in rainshelter. The head weight of Chinese cabbage cultured in infertile soil (sand loam) with no amendments was very low. and that in fertile soil (clay loam) was higher than in infertile soil (sand loam). The head weight of Chinese cabbage as affected by amount of fertilizer was more variable in infertile soil (sand loam) than in fertile soil (clay loam). Nitrogen availability of applied fertilizer by Chinese cabbage was lower in fertile soil (clay loam) than in infertile soil (sand loam) and the lower that was, the more fertilizer applied. By application of poultry manure compost 20Mg ha-1 and natural mineral materials such as guano, phosphate rock, and potassium magnesium rock equal to amount of fertilizer recommended in conventional farming, the yield of Chinese cabbage in infertile soil (sand loam) with 1% organic matter came up to 90% of the yield in fertile soil (clay loam) with 6% organic matter. Therefore natural mineral materials such as guano for N source, phosphate rock for P source, and potassium magnesium rock for K source may be able to use as environmental-friendly fertilizers in organic Chinese cabbage production in highland.