Slurry pit

A slurry pit, also known as a farm slurry pit, slurry tank, slurry lagoon or slurry store, is a hole, dam, or circular concrete structure where farmers gather all their animal waste together with other unusable organic matter, such as hay and water run off from washing down dairies, stables, and barns, in order to convert it, over a lengthy period of time, into fertilizer that can eventually be reused on their lands to fertilize crops. The decomposition of this waste material produces deadly gases, making slurry pits potentially lethal where precautions (separate air supply etc.) are not taken.

Nutrient value

The liquid manure blend, or slurry, can be a rich source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Risks

Slurry pits present multiple risks. Risk of drowning from falling into the tank, or risk from the gases produced during the decomposition. The gases include methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide, these are heavier than air, so in a pit will not disperse quickly. Some are odourless or can destroy sense of smell (thus becoming odourless). If inhaled, they can lead to rapid unconsciousness (which could then lead to drowning), are poisonous and can suffocate. The health and safety executive of Northern Ireland specifies working in a slurry pit as specialist work, requiring separate air supply and a line connecting the worker to two additional people outside of the tank.

See also

• Manure management