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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309000
Title: Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentration and emission patterns for mono-slope beef cattle facilities in the Northern Great Plains

Author
item CORTUS, ERIN - South Dakota State University
item Spiehs, Mindy
item DORAN, BETH - Iowa State University
item AL MAMUN, MD - South Dakota State University
item AYADI, FEROUZ - South Dakota State University
item CORTUS, SCOTT - South Dakota State University
item KOHL, KRIS - Iowa State University
item POHL, STEPHEN - South Dakota State University
item STOWELL, RICHARD - University Of Nebraska
item NICOLAI, RICHARD - South Dakota State University

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2014
Publication Date: 7/13/2014
Citation: Cortus, E.L., Spiehs, M.J., Doran, B.E., Al Mamun, M.R.H., Ayadi, F.Y., Cortus, S.D., Kohl, K., Pohl, S., Stowell, R., Nicolai, R. 2014. Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentration and emission patterns for mono-slope beef cattle facilities in the Northern Great Plains. In: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting. July 13-16, 2014, Montreal, Quebec Canada. ASABE Paper No. 141897896.

Interpretive Summary: Mono-slope buildings are one type of roofed and confined cattle feeding facility that is becoming increasingly popular in the Northern Great Plains. However, there are questions and concerns about the air quality in and around these facilities. The objectives of this study were to determine gas concentrations in and emissions from these beef cattle facilities and relate these air quality parameters to environmental and manure management factors. Four producer-owned and operated mono-slope beef cattle facilities were monitored continuously for one month each quarter for two years, allowing measurements of both daily and seasonal gas concentrations, air flows, and environmental data. Two barns maintained deep-bedded manure packs (Pack) and two barns scraped manure and bedding from the pens weekly (Scrape). The north wall curtain openings were adjusted by the producers seasonally or daily. The average hourly means of maximum concentrations peaked during morning and evening hours for both ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in all four facilities. The seasonal average hourly means of maximum ammonia concentrations for the Pack barns increased with temperature. The relationship between hydrogen sulfide and temperature was strong for both Scrape and Pack barns. Concentrations also demonstrated the expected increase with decreased airflow through the facility. However, gas concentrations at the south side of the barns were, on average, higher than at the north side for comparable wind speeds when compared as either inlets or outlets. Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emission rates for the Pack system were more variable than for the Scrape system, and this increased variability may be attributed to the effects of the age and condition of the pack. This database improves our understanding of air quality conditions in and around these facilities and will help build models to predict air quality in mono-slope beef facilities.

Technical Abstract: Mono-slope buildings are one type of roofed and confined cattle feeding facility that is becoming increasingly popular in the Northern Great Plains. In response to questions and concerns about the barn environment and air quality regulations, the objectives of this study were to determine gas concentrations in and emissions from these beef cattle facilities and relate these air quality parameters to environmental and manure management factors. Four producer-owned and operated mono-slope beef cattle facilities were monitored continuously for one month each quarter for two years to capture both daily and seasonal variations in gas concentrations, airflow and related environmental data. Two barns maintained deep-bedded manure packs (Pack) and two barns scraped manure and bedding from the pens weekly (Scrape). The north wall curtain openings were adjusted by the producers seasonally or daily, and classified as Open (> 1.5 m, mean = 2.1 m) or Closed (< 1.5 m, mean = 0.5 m). The hourly mean airflow and gas concentrations were modeled as functions of perpendicular (to the barn opening) ambient air speed and curtain opening. Net and gross ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emission rates were calculated using two methods: (1) the average of daily means for days when the perpendicular component of the ambient wind was greater than 1.5 m s-1 to the north for at least 18 h (DMM); and (2) the average product of hourly mean airflow and concentration models for southerly and perpendicular ambient wind speeds greater than 1.5 m s-1 (SNM). The average hourly means of maximum concentrations peaked during morning and evening hours for both ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in all four facilities. The seasonal average hourly means of maximum ammonia concentrations for the Pack barns tended to increase with temperature (p<0.1). The relationship between hydrogen sulfide and temperature was strong (p<0.01) for both Scrape and Pack barns. Concentrations also demonstrated the expected increase with decreased airflow through the facility. However, gas concentrations at the south side of the barns were, on average, higher than at the north side for comparable wind speeds when compared as either inlets or outlets. The range between the combined DMM and SNM net and gross average daily mean ammonia emission rates for the Scrape barns was 10 to 60 g head-1 day-1 with Open conditions, and less than 15 g head-1 day-1 for Closed conditions. The corresponding emission rates for the Pack barns were 20 to 100 and less than 30 g head-1 day-1 for Open and Closed conditions, respectively. The hydrogen sulfide emission rates ranged from 2 to 9 (Open) and less than 1 mg head-1 d-1 (Closed) for the Pack barns. The Scrape barn hydrogen sulfide emission rate range was less than 2 (Open) and less than 0.1 mg head-1 d-1 (Closed). Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emission rates for the Pack system were more variable than for the Scrape system, and this increased variability may be attributed to the effects of the age and condition of the pack. This database improves our understanding of air quality conditions in and around these facilities and will support process-based emission modeling efforts.