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Estimating ammonia emitted from manure during storage on a dairy farm

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

Citation:  2022 ASABE Annual International Meeting  2200410.(doi:10.13031/aim.202200410)
Authors:   Rana A. Genedy, Jactone Ogejo
Keywords:   Ammonia emission, Dairy manure, Manure storage, Meteorological conditions.

Abstract. Manure storage is an essential aspect of nutrient management on dairy farms. A substantial amount of nitrogen is lost as ammonia (NH3) from manure during storage. The NH3 emissions can adversely impact the local environment and one of the primary sources of nitrogen pollution. This study quantified the NH3 emissions from a clay-lined manure storage structure on a dairy farm. The NH3 concentrations were measured using Ogawa passive samplers over 10 months, and the NH3 flux was calculated using WindTrax dispersion model. The NH3 flux varied between 3.02±0.12 µg/m2/s and 15.3±0.57 µg/m2/s, averaging 6.19±0.24 µg/m2/s. About 25% of the emissions occurred during and right after the manure removal events when there was weak or no crusting on the manure surface. Crust removal caused the highest increase in NH3 emissions. The manure temperature, manure depth, and the prevailing meteorological conditions (e.g., ambient air temperature, wind speed, and wind direction) were concurrently measured on the farm. The NH3 emissions were significantly correlated with the manure temperature, ambient air temperature, and wind speed (P < 0.05). The wind speed was the most substantial meteorological influence; higher wind speeds considerably increased the emissions. Finally, the NH3 flux followed the manure temperature trend more closely than the ambient air temperature.

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