Ammonia emission from dairy cow manure stored in a lagoon over summer

Citation

McGinn, S.M., Coates, T., Flesch, T.K., Crenna, B. (2008). Ammonia emission from dairy cow manure stored in a lagoon over summer. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, [online] 88(4), 611-615. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/CJSS08002

Abstract

It is recognized that volatilized ammonia (NH3) from intensive livestock production can be a significant pathway for nitrogen (N) pollution to land and water, and can contribute to poor air quality. The objectives of our study were to document NH3 emissions from a dairy lagoon and to assess the influence of meteorology on NH3 emissions. Ammonia emissions were determined using a backward Lagrangian Stochastic approach using WindTrax software, an open-path NH3 laser and a sonic anemometer. Results indicate that an average 5.1 ± 1.6 g NH3 m -2 d-1 was released over the summer; however, the emission varied typically over 24 h between 3.6 and 8.6 g NH3 m-2 d-1. Wind speed and surface temperature of the lagoon had similar influences on the magnitude of the release, where their direct impact on NH 3 emission accounted for 28 and 31% of the variability, respectively. The main implication of this study is that NH3 losses are significant from dairy lagoons, contributing to the issue of N pollution. As well, NH3 emissions are a loss of valuable N for manure used as fertilizer, which in our study amounted to approximately 13% of the total ammoniacal N content of the manure in the lagoon.

Publication date

2008-01-01

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