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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #322230
Title: Integrated Farm System Model Version 4.2 and Dairy Gas Emissions Model Version 3.2 Software development and distribution

Author
item Rotz, Clarence - Al
item CORSON, MICHAEL - Institut National De La Recherche Agronomique (INRA)
item CHIANESE, DAWN - Collaborator
item MONTES, FELIPE - Pennsylvania State University
item HAFNER, SASHA - Collaborator
item Bonifacio, Henry
item COINER, COLETE - Collaborator

Submitted to: Software and User Manual Public Release
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/29/2016
Publication Date: 9/29/2015
Citation: Rotz, C.A., Corson, M., Chianese, D.S., Montes, F., Hafner, S., Bonifacio, H.F., Coiner, C. 2015. Integrated Farm System Model Version 4.2 and Dairy Gas Emissions Model Version 3.2 Software development and distribution. Software and User Manual Public Release. pp 1-237. Available https://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/19020500/Reference%20Manual.pdf

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Emissions of ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O) vary among animal facilities due to differences in housing structure and associated manure management. Bedded pack barns are structures with a roof and sidewalls resulting in a lower air velocity and evaporation potential inside the structure. But similar to open lot facilities, manure accumulates for several months in the bedded pack. With less evaporation, moisture of the manure pack surface is managed by adding bedding materials such as straw or saw dust to provide drier conditions for cattle. In previous versions of the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM, version 4.1) and Dairy Gas Emissions Model (DairyGEM, version 3.1), two whole-farm simulation models developed by USDA-ARS, simulation of NH3 emission from bedded pack barns was performed using the emission model for open lots where the presence of bedding materials on the surface and its effects on NH3 emission were neglected. In addition, N2O emission was estimated using an emission factor, neglecting effects of pack conditions and bedding materials. A new routine was developed that includes moisture absorption capacities for bedding materials and N transformation and loss processes of mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, and leaching. To account for heating in the bedded pack, a routine was developed that simulates heat generation through microbial decomposition and heat losses by evaporation and convection. IFSM and DairyGEM now simulate NH3 and N2O emissions for bedded pack barns as a function of N amounts and forms, bedding type and amounts, climate, and bedded pack conditions. Reference manuals, the help systems and the user interfaces for both the IFSM and DairyGEM software tools were revised and new versions of each farm model (IFSM version 4.2 and DairyGEM version 3.2) were released. Both software packages are distributed worldwide through internet download for use in education and research.