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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #346032
Research Project: Improved Practices to Conserve Air Quality, Maintain Animal Productivity, and Enhance Use of Manure and Soil Nutrients of Cattle Production Systems for the Southern Great Plains

Location: Livestock Nutrient Management Research

Title: Diurnal variation in greenhouse fluxes from a feedyard pen surface

Author
item CASEY, KENNETH - Texas Agrilife Research
item Parker, David
item Waldrip, Heidi
item Todd, Richard

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Accurate estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) from open-lot beef cattle feedlots is an increasing concern given the current and potential future reporting requirements for GHG emissions. Research concerning N2O and CH4 emission fluxes from the manure management system at feedlots, however, has been very limited. This study was conducted to quantify the diel variation in N2O and CH4 flux rates from pen surfaces at a commercial beef cattle feedlot in Texas during 2017. Fluxes from pen surfaces were measured hourly using Licor Long-Term Chambers on 5 sampling days during summer, in a 5-d measurement campaign. Six chambers were arranged in two rows of three, strategically covering representative areas of the pen, including areas near feedbunks and water troughs. A custom built multiplexer sequenced air from each chamber to a Los Gatos Research Enhanced Performance Model N2O/CO analyzer and a Los Gatos Research Enhanced Performance Model CH4/CO2/H2O/NH3 analyzer. From the N2O and CH4 concentrations, flux densities were calculated using linear regression. Further ongoing work is investigating flux rates in other seasons and identifying contributing factors.