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Ammonia Emissions from U.S. Tom Turkey Grow Out and Brooder Houses under Cold Weather Mechanical Ventilation

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Paper number  054034,  2005 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.19477) @2005
Authors:   Susan W. Gay, Eileen F. Wheeler, Jennifer L. Zajaczkowski, Patrick A. Topper
Keywords:   Ammonia emissions, brooder houses, emissions, poultry, ventilation, ventilation rate

Ammonia (NH3) emission data from four tom turkey houses (two grow out; two brooder) in Pennsylvania were monitored during winter 2003-2004. Data collection occurred during three, 48-h periods for grow out houses and during two, 48-h periods for brooder houses. Ammonia concentration was determined using electrochemical sensors in a portable monitoring unit (PMU); ventilation rate was determined using a fan assessment numeration systems (FANS) and fan runtime data. Mean NH3 emission rates for grow out houses with used and new litter were 2.62 and 0.989 g NH3d-1bird-1 (167 and 74.1 g NH3d-1AU-1, 1 AU = 500 kg), respectively. The 62% difference between emission rates was due to differences in litter total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) concentrations. For brooder houses, mean NH3 emission rate was 0.00238 g NH3d-1bird-1 (7.15 g NH3d-1AU-1). The two orders of magnitude difference between emission rates for the two types of turkey management systems was due to higher NH3 concentrations and ventilation rates in the grow out houses. Daily variability in NH3 emission rates from a single house was relatively small compared to variability of emission rates between houses, likely due to litter management differences. Mean NH3 emission rate for the grow out house with used litter was similar to the rate currently used by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); however, mean emission rate for the grow out house with new litter was 60% lower. Future work is recommended to determine NH3 emission rates from both types of housing during mild and hot weather.

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