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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 #406858
Research Project: Strategies to Manage Feed Nutrients, Reduce Gas Emissions, and Promote Soil Health for Beef and Dairy Cattle Production Systems of the Southern Great Plains

Location: Livestock Nutrient Management Research

Title: Mitigating ammonia deposition derived from open-lot livestock facilities into Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park: State of the science

Author
item BRANDANI, CAROLINA - Texas A&M Agrilife
item LEE, MYEONGSEONG - Texas A&M University
item AUVERMANN, BRENT - Texas A&M Agrilife
item PARKER, DAVID - West Texas A & M University
item CASEY, KEN - Texas A&M Agrilife
item CROSMAN, ERIK - West Texas A & M University
item GOUVEA, VINICIUS - Texas A&M Agrilife
item Beck, Matthew - Matt
item BUSH, JACK - Texas A&M Agrilife
item Koziel, Jacek
item SHAW, BRYAN - Shaw Engineering, Llc
item BRAUER, DAVID - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: Atmosphere
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/2023
Publication Date: 9/22/2023
Citation: Brandani, C.B., Lee, M., Auvermann, B., Parker, D.B., Casey, K., Crosman, E., Gouvea, V.N., Beck, M.R., Bush, J., Koziel, J.A., Shaw, B., Brauer, D. 2023. Mitigating ammonia deposition derived from open-lot livestock facilities into Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park: State of the science. Atmosphere. 14(10). Article 1469. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14101469.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14101469

Interpretive Summary: The Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) ecosystem is quite sensitive to changes in ammonia inputs from the atmosphere. Livestock operations have been identified as a major contributor to ammonia deposition in the RMNP. A team of scientists from Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, West Texas A&M University, Shaw Engineering, LLC and USDA-ARS, Bushland, TX developed the most recent state of the science on the ammonia emissions in open-lot livestock facilities. They discussed the influence of daily and longer-term weather events on ammonia emission, ammonia transport in the atmosphere and deposition into the RMNP. The team revealed the most plausible management practices to reduce ammonia escaping from corral surfaces in cattle feedyards. The team outlined the scientific basis, practicality, and expected efficacy of each management practice.

Technical Abstract: Northeast Colorado’s livestock operations have been identified as a major contributor to reactive-nitrogen deposition in the Rocky Mountains National Park (RMNP). We present a synthesis on the state of knowledge concerning the emissions, transport, deposition and mitigation strategies of gaseous ammonia (NH3) from open-lot cattle feeding facilities located east of the northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Gaseous NH3 mitigation strategies discussed are related to diet manipulation and management practices. Crude protein content of 11% and condensed tannins of 8% reduced the NH3 emission by 43% and 57%, respectively. Contradictory results for NH3 mitigation by using water sprinklers have been reported - an increase of NH3 emission by 27% and decrease of 27 to 56%. Pen cleaning should be thought of in terms of maintaining proper moisture content, and not necessarily as a mitigation option. The use of chemical and physical manure amendments has shown a wide range in NH3 mitigation effectiveness, ranging from 19 to 98% for chemical and 0 to 43% for physical amendments, respectively. The review outlined the scientific basis, practicality, and expected efficacy of each management practice. The most plausible management practices to reduce NH3 emissions from corral surfaces in cattle feedyards are presented.