NH3 levels and resulting emissions during the handling of manure within animalproduction facilities havesignificant health, safety, odorgeneration, and environmental impacts. Aerial concentrations of ammonia were measuredin the air leaving and downwind of a 1.6 million caged layer poultry facility using two types of manure management:belt/composting and deep pit. In addition, Nbalances were done using a controlled volume approach based on N/ash ratios.Results showed clear advantages of belt/composting over conventional deeppit systems, with N retention in compost of0.559 kg bird1 yr1 versus 0.265 kg bird1 yr1 in deeppit manure. In addition, even with high NH3 concentrations leavingthe composting building (90 and 160 ppm), 24hour average atmospheric concentrations were less than 0.61 ppm beyond152 m, and total emissions were half that of conventional caged layer systems. Data are presented in terms of sourceconcentrations and emission rates. The handling practices associated with the housing systems studied were outlined asbackground material.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Keener et al. (2002) studied this question.