Agriculture

Recent Studies from North Dakota State University Add New Data to Nitrogen Compounds

  2012 MAY 10 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to the authors of recent research from Fargo, North Dakota, "Odor and air emissions from swine facilities are a growing public nuisance faced by animal industries across the country. Quantification of odor, ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions from swine facilities is essential to develop and implement odor abatement techniques."

  "In this study, odor, NH3 and H2S emissions were measured bi-weekly/monthly from two sow farms (Farm-A with outdoor lagoon systems; Farm-B deep pit system) in North Dakota. Air samples were collected from exhaust fans using a vacuum chamber and Tedlar bags. Odor detection threshold values were determined using a dynamic dilution olfactometer. Ammonia and H2S concentration were measured using Drager ™ chip measurement systems (CMS) and a Jerome ™ meter. Air flow rates from exhaust fans were measured using a portable thermo-anemometer and ventilation rate was determined as the summation of air flow rates of all fans. Average odor concentration for the gestation and farrowing barn for Farm-A were 926 +/- 439 and 695 +/- 428 OU m(-3), respectively, whereas these values were 964 +/- 371 and 629 +/- 341 OU m(-3), respectively in Farm-B. Farm-A, NH3 emissions from the farrowing barn varied between 2.66 and 9.36 g d(-1) AU(-1), but in the gestation barn it varied from 4.19 to 30.73 g d(-1) AU(-1). Similarly, farrowing barn ammonia emission from Farm-B varied between 1.92 and 5.30 g d(-1) AU(-1), but gestation barn ammonia emissions varied between 17.68 and 58.56 g d(-1) AU(-1). Overall, deep pit housing systems resulted in significantly higher NH3 concentrations and odor emissions. Similarly, Farm-A H2S emission varied between 0.42 to 1.45 g d(-1) AU(-1) in the farrowing barn, whereas it varied from 0.87 and 8.22 g d(-1) AU(-1) in the gestation barn. Similarly, farrowing barn H2S emissions from Farm-B varied from 0.27 to 0.55 g d(-1) AU(-1), but for the gestation barn ammonia emission varied between 2.17 and 8.37 g d(-1) AU(-1). The gestation barn had much higher H2S emissions than that of the farrowing barn," wrote S. Rahman and colleagues, North Dakota State University.

  The researchers concluded: "In general, the deep pit housing systems (Farm-B) resulted in higher pollutant gases concentration and emissions."

  Rahman and colleagues published their study in Applied Engineering in Agriculture (Odor, Ammonia, And Hydrogen Sulfide Concentration And Emissions From Two Farrowing-gestation Swine Operations In North Dakota. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2012;28(1):107-115).

  For additional information, contact S. Rahman, North Dakota State University, Dept. of Anim Sci, Fargo, ND 58108, United States.

  Publisher contact information for the journal Applied Engineering in Agriculture is: Amer Soc Agricultural & Biological Engineers, 2950 Niles Rd, St Joseph, MI 49085-9659, USA.

  Keywords: City:Fargo, State:North Dakota, Country:United States, Region:North and Central America, Elements, Chemistry, Sulfur Compounds, Nitrogen Compounds, Inorganic Chemicals, Noncarboxylic Acids

  This article was prepared by VerticalNews Agriculture editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2012, VerticalNews Agriculture via VerticalNews.com.