Location: Poultry Production and Product Safety Research
Project Number: 6022-63000-006-035-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Feb 23, 2024
End Date: Aug 31, 2031
Objective:
1. Determine the effect of litter amendments on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from poultry litter in pen trials for NRCS practices 591 (Practice Amendments for Treating Agricultural Waste) and 590 (Nutrient Management).
2. Measure GHG emissions from commercial broiler houses for NRCS practice 592 (Feed Management).
3. Determine the effect of the ARS Indoor Air Scrubber on reducing propane use and subsequent carbon dioxide emissions in poultry houses for NRCS practices 371 (Air Filtration and Scrubbing) and 374 (Energy Efficient Agricultural Operation).
Approach:
Objective 1: GHG fluxes from broiler litter will be determined in pen trials. Twenty four pens will be used to grow broiler chickens. Litter will be six treatments (5 chemical treatments and a control). GHG fluxes and litter chemistry will be measured weekly through the growout.
Objective 2: Greenhouse gas concentrations and ventilation rates will be measured in two commercial broiler houses owned by the University of Arkansas at Savoy, AR. These data will be used to calculate GHG emissions into the atmosphere. Various studies will be conducted over the next five years including the effect of different types of feed on ammonia loss.
Objective 3: The ARS Indoor Air Scrubber will be tested on a commercial broiler farm. Carbon dioxide emissions from the test house and a house without the scrubber will be measured. Propane use by both houses will also be measured. It is expected that reducing ammonia concentrations in the house will result in a significant decrease in propane use during cooler months due to lower ventilation rates.
