Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from dairy freestall barn manure

Eileen Fabian Wheeler, M. Arlene Adviento-Borbe, Patrick A. Topper, Neil E. Brown, Gabriella Varga

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lactating cow trials were conducted to evaluate the impact of precision-fed diets at 16.5% crude protein but differing in silage source (alfalfa-corn vs. grass-corn or all-corn) and corn grain grind (fine vs. coarse) on emissions of ammonia (NH3), and greenhouse gases (GHG) [carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20)]. Manure on the 120-cow freestall barn floor with gas fluxes measured at 80 locations over a 12-hour period using a non-steady-state flux chamber and an infrared photoacoustic gas analyzer during 18 trial days over a 6-month period. Air and manure temperatures were positively and highly correlated with emissions of NH3, CO2 and CH4 NH3 (g AU 1 d1) = 1.7 + 0.12*Tair (°C) [R 2=0.80] for indoor air temperatures (Tair) over the range of-5 to 32°C (1AU = 500 kg). Ammonia, CO2 and CH4 gas emissions were controlled to some extent by microbial activity and similar environmental factors. N2O fluxes remained <0.1 g AU1 d1. All gas fluxes were similar (p=0.054 to 0.860) regardless of silage source and corn grind. Highest average NH3 and CH4 fluxes were measured in the all-corn silage diet (also coincided with the higher environment temperature trials) with 6.3 g ALT1 d1 for NH3 and 3.5 g AU1 d1 for CH4. The alfalfa-corn diet had the highest average C02 emissions (111 g AU1 d1).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2008, ASABE 2008
PublisherAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Pages4552-4566
Number of pages15
ISBN (Print)9781605605364
StatePublished - 2008
EventAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2008 - Providence, RI, United States
Duration: Jun 29 2008Jul 2 2008

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2008, ASABE 2008
Volume8

Other

OtherAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2008
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityProvidence, RI
Period6/29/087/2/08

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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