Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions from naturally ventilated free-stall dairy barns

H. S. Joo, P. M. Ndegwa, A. J. Heber, J. Q. Ni, B. W. Bogan, J. C. Ramirez-Dorronsoro, E. L. Cortus

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

Abstract

Emissions of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from two naturally-ventilated freestall dairy barns are presented in this paper. Barn 1 (B1) housed 400 fresh-lactating cows, while Barn 2 (B2) housed 850 non-fresh-lactating cows. The relationships between NH3 and H 2S emissions and environmental factors (temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity) were evaluated. Average emissions of NH3 (32.3 g/d-cow) from the smaller B1 were approximately two times as the average emissions (16.6 g/d-cow) from the larger B2. Average emissions of H 2S, however, were similar at 2.05 and 1.74 g/d-cow from B1 and B2, respectively. Average emissions of NH3 and H2S were highest in summer (July) at 44.2 and 2.78 g/d-cow from B1, and 23.2 g and 1.92 g/d-cow from B2, respectively. The lowest emissions, on the other hand, were observed in winter (January) at 27.8 and 1.92 g/d-cow from B1, and 10.2 and 0.87 g/d-cow from B2, respectively. In general, emissions of NH3increased with temperature (R2=0.87) and wind velocity (R2=0.77), while inverse relationships were observed between NH3 emissions and relative humidity (R2=0.84). The correlations between H2S emissions and the same environmental parameters, in general, were poor (R 2 ≤ 0.01). Significant spikes of H2S emissions were observed during manure-flushing events.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2012, ASABE 2012
PublisherAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Pages2739-2751
Number of pages13
ISBN (Print)9781622762088
StatePublished - 2012
EventAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2012 - Dallas, TX, United States
Duration: Jul 29 2012Aug 1 2012

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2012, ASABE 2012
Volume4

Other

OtherAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2012
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDallas, TX
Period7/29/128/1/12

Keywords

  • Ammonia
  • Dairy barns
  • Emissions
  • Hydrogen sulfide
  • Natural ventilation

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